LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Supreme Court of the United States rejected a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas in an effort to overturn the presidential election, but two other 'states' listed in joining the legal fight 'New Nevada' and 'New California' are making headlines and drawing jokes online.
Robert E. Thomas III, an attorney representing "New Nevada" and "New California" filed a 13-page amicus brief Friday.
READ: AMICUS BRIEF FILED ON BEHALF OF "NEW NEVADA" AND "NEW CALIFORNIA"
According to the brief, the pretend states are "directly impacted by the arbitrary and capricious changes in election laws and procedures occur with unfortunate regularity in the current states of California and Nevada."
In the end, the Supreme Court did not take up the amicus brief.
"It is very disappointing, I've been a lawyer for 40 something odd years and I really expected they would take Texas' lawsuit," said Thomas in an interview with 13 Investigates.
Despite the legal loss, Thomas says it is time to consider splitting up the Silver State, specifically liberal-leaning Clark County, in an effort to balance political will and power.
"We are being overruled by everything we do by Clark County and we're being roughshod, there is absolutely no restraint on how Clark County runs roughshod over the rest of the state," explained Thomas.
In a separate effort, parts of California would be broken off to form "New California."
"The purpose of this is to restore a voice among those of us who have lost our voice," explained Thomas.
Thomas says the power to split up existing states comes from a specific section of the US Constitution.
A state split has to be approved by the existing state legislature and then a follow-up approval vote by Congress.
"I don't think there is any sense that either of the existing states would be OK with this," said Rebecca Gill, a professor at UNLV.
Gill says the "New Nevada" deal does not make much legal sense and believes the effort will not move forward very far.
Thomas expects California lawmakers to take possible action on a state split by as early as Feb. 2021.
Thomas notes that the legal window to split Nevada has passed for the upcoming legislative session in 2021 and won't likely see action until 2023.
Social media began to make fun of the idea on Friday.
Twitter account Las Vegas Locally and others had some ideas about the proposed new state.
What happens in New Nevada stays in New Nevada.
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) December 11, 2020
