Muller says DOJ lacks authority to block certification
Derek MullerUniversity of Notre Dame law professor
Muller argues that the statute does not authorize DOJ to block certification of the Alaska Senate result.
“The statute simply doesn’t let the Department of Justice enjoin certification”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
DOJ challenges Alaska Senate certification over two Sullivans; Murkowski objects
DOJ sued Alaska over the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the Senate ballot. It seeks to prevent certification under specified conditions involving an incumbent loss and the possible effect of namesake votes. Lisa Murkowski and Mary Peltola criticize the intervention.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
AP attributes Trump's acknowledgment of ordering the suit to remarks to reporters and quotes Barber's criticism. The complaint supplies the precise conditions of the requested relief.
Before the quotation
AP quotes Muller analyzing the lawsuit and the conditions under which DOJ seeks relief.
After the quotation
He says a wide Democratic victory or narrow Republican victory could moot the suit; otherwise, the court would likely dismiss it.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Muller says the statute does not let DOJ enjoin certification. This directly rejects the legal basis for the requested intervention, the action under scrutiny in this case.
- Recorded on
- Published here
More from this case
Read the full caseMurkowski says DOJ should not have filed the suit
“The Department of Justice should never have filed this lawsuit.”Read statement
Peltola accuses Sullivan of using Washington allies to stay in power
“This is the corruption AK is fed up with, and it's why I'm in this race.”Read statement
Barber accuses DOJ of trying to overturn Alaska voters' will
“filing a sham lawsuit to overturn the will of Alaska voters”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Muller says DOJ lacks authority to block certification
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/6696-muller-argues-that-the-statute-does-not-authorize
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Muller says DOJ lacks authority to block certification". First published: 2026-10-25. Last updated: 2026-10-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/6696-muller-argues-that-the-statute-does-not-authorize