A Georgia judge is ordering the U.S. President Barack Obama to appear at an upcoming hearing on Thur., Jan. 26, 2012, if Obama wants his name included on the presidential primary ballot in March of this year, according to the Washington Post.
The hearing is the result of a lawsuit filed by several parties who contest Obama's citizenship, stating they do not believe he is a natural-born citizen and, therefore, unable to run for the highest office in the land.
Pres. Obama sought to legally quash the subpoena ordering him to appear at the hearing (and to legally defend his right to be on the ballot), but Georgia Judge Michael M. Malihi denied the president's legal request, effectively stating in his legal response on Jan. 20, 2012 that,
"Defendant's motion suggests that no President should be compelled to attend a Court hearing. This may be correct. But Defendant has failed to enlighten the Court with any legal authority," the Georgia judge said. (Article continues below)
Essentially, this means that the President of the United States sought to disentangle himself from the proceedings by following in previous-Pres. Bill Clinton's footsteps during the Monical Lewinsky case, which consisted of asking the Court to recuse his presence based upon his job title.
But legal proceedings dictate a legal response that adheres to the Courts legal requirements, not a personal plea or unsubstantiated positions, which Pres. Obama--a lawyer by trade himself--would already know.
Judge Malihi, therefore, had no recourse, legally, but to issue an order that found against Pres. Obama on his motion to quash subpoenas, stating that the president's
"argument regarding service is without merit."
To view the Office of State Administrative Hearings in the State of Georgia document pertaining to the Obama Georgia legal matter, including the Order on Motion to Quash Subpoenas, click here.
The Georgia lawsuit filed against Pres. Obama is slated to be heard in court in Atlanta on Thur., Jan. 26, 2012. It now remains unclear if the defandant in the case will appear in court or not this upcoming week.
References: Judge Malihi Order, Washington Post
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