Bloomberg BNA:

Attorney James Bopp faced skeptical questioning in a court hearing as he sought to convince a federal judge to convene a special, three-judge panel in a renewed a challenge to restrictions on “soft money” contributions to political parties (Republican Party of La. v. Federal Election Commission, D.D.C., No. 15-cv-1241, motion hearing 10/27/15).

Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Oct. 27 quoted Yogi Berra’s quip about “deja vu all over again,” as Bopp made his way to the microphone to argue on behalf of the Republican Party of Louisiana and two local party committees in that state.

Cooper suggested Bopp’s latest case was similar to two earlier cases challenging party contribution limits established under the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA). The previous cases included one brought just last year in which the same judge refused to approve a three-judge panel.

Appointing such a special panel would be crucial to getting the Supreme Court to again consider BCRA’s party contribution limits because a decision by such a panel could be appealed directly to the high court….The judge did not indicate whether he would approve a three-judge panel in the new case, nor did he say when he would rule on the issue.