Early Tuesday Judge Peter Thompson, who ruled last week after a two-day hearing that Kari Lake’s legal team did not prove she lost the Arizona Governor’s race because of intentional malice on the part of election officials, released a three-page order in response to a motion filed yesterday by Maricopa County and Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. That motion sought sanctions against Lake’s attorneys for filing yet another frivolous lawsuit, as well as fines to pay court costs.
The penalties could have been substantial, including sanctioning Lake’s lawyers and up to $700,000 in fines that Katie Hobbs sought to defend yet a second appeal from Kari Lake, when it was clear from the beginning, especially after her first lawsuit was immediately dismissed, that there was no case to be made.
Today’s brief ruling can be found here. In a nutshell, Judge Thompson ruled against the County’s assertion that Lake’s lawsuit was groundless and was not filed in good faith, and so sanctions were not ordered.
There is no doubt that each side believes firmly in its position with great conviction. The fact that Plaintiff failed to meet the burden of clear and convincing evidence … does not equate to finding that her claims were, or were not, groundless and presented in bad faith.
Judge Thompson did rule, however, that Katie Hobbs’ Office should be compensated for hiring expert witnesses to defend the sham lawsuit. The total compensation is just over $33,000. That’s something, but it doesn’t send the message many wanted.
Leading up to the election, Lake certainly didn’t win over many Republicans by pissing all over the McCain family in Arizona. Then the day before Judge Thompson ruled on the County’s motion she tweeted that he was being coached by “top left-wing attorneys.” For someone who had a career in communications, she sure didn't know her audience.
This is Kari Lake’s second appeal after she lost the election, so that’s three losses in a row. Even so, Lake said she will appeal the Judge’s ruling that her lawyers did not prove election tampering. Last week Lake asked a rightwing audience to pray for her because she was having a difficult time hiring top-notch lawyers, who rightfully fear sanctions and fines because they know the case has no merit.
It remains to be seen whether Lake will appeal Judge Thompson’s ruling to the Arizona Supreme Court, with the same unsuccessful attorneys, the same empty “evidence,” and the same witnesses spouting nonsense conspiracies but who, when pressed, did not admit to seeing or knowing of any intentional misconduct.
Mike Lindell the pillow jerk and Patrick Byrne the Overstocked jerk have funded a lot of Arizona’s legal shenanigans, including the stupid “audit,” the resulting “mules” movie fiasco, and Kari Lake’s lawsuits. Given today’s relatively light fine and lack of sanctions, I’m inclined to think Lake will keep her grift going.
In the meantime, the Judge ordered, as his “final judgment,” that Katie Hobbs is Governor-Elect. Pound sand, Lake.
UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Hours after Judge Thompson ordered Kari Lake to pay legal fees of approximately $33,000, she is not only appealing that order, but she is also asking the Court of Appeals to reconsider all 10 counts outlined in her second lawsuit. Eight of those counts were dismissed by Judge Thompson, so only two were the subject of last week’s two-day hearing—whether voting machines or the ballots’ chain of custody were intentionally tampered with to benefit Katie Hobbs.
The Judge ruled Lake’s attorneys did not provide evidence of either allegation, which led to Maricopa County and Secretary of State Katie Hobbs filing a motion seeking sanctions and fines. That motion was ruled on today—no sanctions but a modest penalty to compensate Hobbs’ Office for the cost of hiring expert witnesses. Now Kari Lake wants to start over, asking that the original 10-count lawsuit be reviewed. She also indicated in the filing that she will “seek direct review by the Arizona Supreme Court.”
Lake lost the election, her first lawsuit was thrown out and her lawyers were sanctioned, her second lawsuit was dismissed and Lake was ordered to pay court costs. Will a court please end this madness? You can bet Kari Lake will be tweeting a video soon, asking gullible rubes to pony up so she can defeat the radical Marxist baby traffickers who rigged the election for Katie Hobbs.