Here’s what I don’t understand. I’ve been puzzling this all morning. If you boycott a hearing, and refuse to appear, and a default ruling is made against you...
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY APPEAL?????
From what I gather, they cannot appeal.
The answer is in the definition of "you."
Obama's position is that as the elected head of one of the three aspects of the federal government, the States have no standing to tell him to do anything. And in addition, that this is a federal issue, if it is any issue at all.
If he responded to this court, he would be acknowledging its jurisdiction over him. The only way for him to defend his position is by not responding, in his capacity as president. As such, he need fear no legal repercussions from the courts, State or federal.
And finally, his lawyers will take the position that as an elected president, his qualification for the position has already been approved by the fact of his elected and sworn-in status, and so he is immune from having to deal with the question any longer.
Jurisdiction. Ultimately, it's the only game in town.