Unreported / Non-Citable
Background
The Republican National Committee, Mississippi Republican Party, James Perry, and Matthew Lamb brought one action, while the Libertarian Party of Mississippi brought another. The defendants included Harrison County election officials and Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson; Vet Voice Foundation and the Mississippi Alliance for Retired Americans participated as intervenor defendants.
The consolidated appeal arose from two cases in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The Fifth Circuit considered the matter on remand from the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Court’s Holding
In a brief per curiam opinion, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment.
The panel stated that it affirmed “in light of” Watson v. RNC, 146 S. Ct. 2165 (2026). The opinion provided no additional analysis of the claims or the district court’s reasoning.
Key Takeaways
- The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment.
- The disposition followed a remand from the U.S. Supreme Court.
- The court based its affirmance on Watson v. RNC and designated the opinion as unpublished.
Why It Matters
The decision resolves the consolidated appeal by leaving the district court’s judgment in place following Supreme Court review. Its significance rests on the Fifth Circuit’s reliance on Watson v. RNC, although the opinion does not explain that decision’s application or describe the underlying dispute.