Friday, March 27, 2009

Federal Judge Transfers Sarah Palin Juneteenth Lawsuit to Alaska Opting Not to Dismiss the Case, Announces Plaintiff Gregory Charles Royal

Plaintiff Gregory Charles Royal announced today that a DC Federal Judge transferred the Sarah Palin Juneteenth Lawsuit to the US District Court for Alaska opting not to dismiss the lawsuit.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 27, 2009 -- US District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton has issued an order transferring the Sarah Palin Juneteenth lawsuit, brought by America's Hot Musician judge Gregory Charles Royal, from Washington, DC to Alaska (previously filed as 09-cv-0484-new case number 1:09-cv-00428).

Royal considers this a positive development because the case, which was reviewed by the judge prior to transfer, was not dismissed on the court's own motion as frivolous. Charaterizing the case the court wrote:

"This matter comes before the Court on review of plaintiffs pro se complaint. The Court will transfer this case to the United States District Court for the District of Alaska Plaintiff alleges that he his an African-American musical performer, educator, and producer who has traveled to Alaska while touring with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. According to plaintiff, a bill enacted by the Alaska legislature requires that the Governor of Alaska issue a proclamation each year to commemorate Juneteenth. He alleges that Governor Palin not only failed to issue a proclamation in 2007, but also refused to issue a proclamation retroactively. As a result of Governor Palin's inaction, the activites of citizens and civil groups which had celebrated Juneteenth were disrupted, resulting in unrealized event revenues and event cancellations. Plaintiff demands a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, and damages."

Following the order, Royal filed a notice to the court of his intent to amend the complaint to add "one or more co-plaintiffs who are residents of Alaska", en route to seeking class action status.

For a complete background on the case, please see: Sarah Palin: Class Action Status Sought in Juneteenth Lawsuit as National Juneteenth Chairman Seeks Meeting with Palin to Reconcile Racial Tensions at    http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/03/prweb2246264.htm

To view Gregory Charles Royal's original complaint, go to (http://americashotmusician.org/files/Palin_Complaint_Federal.pdf

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[Via Legal / Law]

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