David Souter

The Maine Supreme Court granted Herb Hoffman a one-week stay on a recent decision that, when enacted, will take him off the ballot as an independent running for the U.S. Senate.

The decision was announced yesterday, the same day U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter denied an application to order the state’s high court for the stay.

Hoffman’s candidacy was challenged by the Maine Democratic Party on the grounds that he did not personally witness each of the signatures on his petition sheets. Both the Secretary of State and Superior Court ruled in his favor, but the Maine Supreme Court ruled against him.

He hopes to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland) in November.

Herb Hoffman’s application to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied today.

Hoffman went to the Court in hopes of getting a stay on a recent Maine Supreme Court decision that invalidated enough of his signatures to take him off the ballot.

He had filed to run for U.S. Senate as an independent against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland).

Justice Souter: U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter has jurisdiction over the Hoffman case.Herb Hoffman, an independent hoping to run for U.S. Senate, claims his First Amendment rights were violated when the Maine Supreme Court ruled against him last month.

The decision disqualified him from the ballot, but according to his campaign he hasn't been removed yet.

It’s not certain if the Court will hear the case, however Justice David Souter has acknowledged the petition and has requested several briefs in response to the petition that were filed today.

Souter oversees emergency petitions from this region.

The Hoffman petition could be considered in two stages, one contingent on the other.