Plaintiff voters in a federal lawsuit over who will choose Georgia Supreme Court Justice Keith Blackwell's successor have upped the ante in the fight—asking a federal judge for an injunction that would reinstate the canceled election to replace him. 

Plaintiffs counsel Bruce Brown sought the injunction after the Supreme Court of Georgia signaled it would not expedite consideration of a state appeal by two would-be candidates who were denied the opportunity to run for Blackwell's post. The ruling affirmed Gov. Brian Kemp's right to appoint Blackwell's successor.  

But a federal injunction would require Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger "to do what he intended to do before he made the errant decision to cancel the election: take all steps necessary to conduct the nonpartisan general election previously set and noticed," Brown said.