Michael Mennella v. The Honorable Anthony J. Albence
This text of Michael Mennella v. The Honorable Anthony J. Albence (Michael Mennella v. The Honorable Anthony J. Albence) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Chancery of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE SAM GLASSCOCK III STATE OF DELAWARE COURT OF CHANCERY COURTHOUSE VICE CHANCELLOR 34 THE CIRCLE GEORGETOWN, DELAWARE 19947
Date Submitted: December 13, 2022 Date Decided: January 19, 2023
M. Jane Brady, Esquire Sarah A. Fruehauf, Esquire Brady Legal Group LLC Zi-Xiang Shen, Esquire 36365 Tarpon Drive Delaware Department of Justice Lewes, Delaware 19958 Carvel State Office Building 820 North French Street, 6th Floor Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Re: Michael Mennella v. The Honorable Anthony J. Albence, in his official capacity as State Election Commissioner, and State of Delaware Department of Elections, C.A. No. 2022-0179-SG
Dear Counsel:
The Plaintiff here seeks a declaratory judgment that certain state statutes are
unconstitutional. The Plaintiff, Michael Mennella, a registered Delaware voter and
inspector of elections,1 brought this action against Defendants, the Delaware State
Election Commissioner and the state Department of Election (collectively, the
“DoE” or the “State”).2 The Plaintiff challenges the constitutionality of 15 Del. C.
§ 5402, et seq. and 15 Del. C. § 5503(k).3
1 Verified Compl. Declaratory J. and Injunctive Relief ¶ 8, Dkt. No. 1. 2 Id. ¶¶ 9–11. 3 Id. 15–16 (Prayer for Relief). 15 Del. C. § 5402, et seq. (the “Early Voting Statute”) is a statute that permits
votes to be cast in person before the day of the general election.4 Plaintiff avers that
the Early Voting Statute violates Article V, Section 1 of the Delaware Constitution
of 1897 because the statute “expand[s] the administration of the general election
beyond its constitutionally designated day.”5
15 Del. C. § 5503(k) (the “Absentee Voting Statute”) is a statute that requires
the DoE to “‘automatically send an absentee ballot to each person in permanent
absentee status for each election in which the person is entitled to vote.’”6 Plaintiff
contends that this statute violates Article V, Section 4A of the Constitution of
Delaware because it “grant[s] eligibility to vote by absentee ballot indefinitely, and
without consideration of the applicant’s eligibility at each subsequent election.”7
By way of remedy, the Plaintiff seeks a declaration that these statutes are
unconstitutional.8 Presuming this declaratory relief, the Plaintiff then seeks to enjoin
their enforcement by the State.9 Before me is the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss.10
The matter was fully briefed,11 but no argument ensued; consideration was
4 Id. ¶ 15. 5 Id. ¶ 47. 6 Id. ¶ 20 (quoting 15 Del. C. § 5503(k)). 7 Id. ¶ 58. 8 Id. 15 (Prayer for Relief). 9 Id. 16 (Prayer for Relief). 10 See Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss, Dkt. No. 8. 11 Opening Br. Supp. Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss, Dkt. No. 12; Pl. Michael Mennella’s Br. Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss, Dkt. No. 13; Reply Br. Further Supp. Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss, Dkt. No 15. 2 suspended during pendency of another election-law challenge. That case, Higgin v.
Albence,12 had certain issues in common with this action. Unlike this action,
however, Higgin was expedited in light of the then-impending November 2022
election.13 Higgin has since been resolved,14 and I consider the Motion to Dismiss
to be pending decision here. Among the issues briefed on the Motion to Dismiss
was subject-matter jurisdiction. As that matter is dispositive, I need not consider the
other grounds for dismissal posed by the Defendant, and dismiss the matter based
on the complaint and the briefing, without argument.15
Chancery is a court of limited jurisdiction. Absent a statutory grant of
jurisdiction—not alleged here—jurisdiction in this court is limited to equitable
actions16—again not present—and to cases where equitable relief is required.17 Per
the complaint, the request for injunctive relief, to follow a determination that the
statutes in question are unconstitutional, is sufficient to covey subject matter
jurisdiction on the latter ground. It is not.
12 2022 WL 4239590, (Del. Ch. Sept. 14, 2022), judgment entered, (Del. Ch. 2022), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, 2022 WL 5333790 (Del. Oct. 7, 2022), and amended, (Del. Ch. 2022), and aff’d in part, rev’d in part, 2022 WL 5333790 (Del. Oct. 7, 2022). 13 Id. at *6. 14 See Albence v. Higgin, 2022 WL 17591864, (Del. Dec. 13, 2022). 15 The Defendant moved to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), which, given my decision here, I need not—and must not—reach. 16 That is, actions based on equitable relationships. 17 Delawareans for Educ. Opportunity v. Carney, 2018 WL 4849935, at *5 (Del. Ch. Oct. 5, 2018). 3 As this Court has had reason to point out recently,18 a declaratory judgement
is available at law, and a simple request for a follow-on injunction is insufficient to
convey Chancery jurisdiction. The syllogism, per Plaintiff, supporting jurisdiction,
is as follows:
1) A government ukase is unconstitutional or otherwise unsustainable;
2) The court should, accordingly, declare the ukase unenforceable, and;
3) Equity is required to enforce the declaratory judgement just referenced.19
Such a self-proving rationale, to my mind, approaches fatuity.20
In the case of a government—Delaware government comes to mind—that is
rule-driven, step three is superfluous. In a lawless society, injunctive relief is
insufficient. In neither case is equity invoked.21
As I have had occasion to recently point out, equity can have a vital role
in cases of constitutional violation:
Where there is a real chance that relief will not be forthcoming absent injunction, equity is invoked. Where the right requires a remedy 18 See In re COVID-Related Restrictions on Religious Servs., 2022 WL 17101449, (Del. Ch. Nov. 21, 2022); see also Birney v. Delaware Dep’t of Safety & Homeland Sec., 2022 WL 16955159, (Del. Ch. Nov. 16, 2022). 19 As I understand the Plaintiffs’ argument, as an election inspector Mennella would be unable to comply with his oath of office if the State attempts to enforce unconstitutional election law. See generally Pl. Michael Mennella’s Br. Opp’n Defs.’ Mot. Dismiss. 20 To the Plaintiff’s credit, perhaps, he fails to respond directly to the Defendants’ contention that he lacks subject matter jurisdiction. See id. 21 In a (probably apocryphal) response to a United States Supreme Court decision with which he disagreed, Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S 515, Andrew Jackson supposedly stated that “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.” I find it unlikely that the dictatorial President Jackson of this legend would have nonetheless been swayed, had the court only appended an order providing for injunctive relief. 4 bespoke to the facts, equity is invoked. Where an ongoing deprivation of rights needs a remedy by interim relief, equity is invoked.22
This is neatly illustrated by the companion case to the instant action, Higgin, referred
to above. In Higgin, equity was invoked in a constitutional challenge to election
law, in light of an imminent election, seeking a restraining order to prevent
irreparable harm.23 Therefore, presumptively, this Court had subject-matter
jurisdiction in Higgin.24 By contrast, nothing in this action requires equity to act.
Nothing in this Letter Opinion should be read to imply that the Plaintiff’s
allegations are inconsequential. In fact, they challenge the enforceability of acts of
the General Assembly as violative of the Delaware Constitution, in the single
arena—voting rights—most fundamental to a functioning democracy. These are
important issues; they are also issues outside the jurisdiction of this Court.
Accordingly, this matter is dismissed with leave to transfer to the Superior Court.
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