Libertarian Party of Arkansas v. Martin, No. 16-3794 (8th Cir. 2017)
Annotate this CaseThe Libertarian Party filed suit seeking a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the Arkansas Secretary of State, claiming that the ballot access statutory scheme violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. During the Secretary's appeal of the district court's judgment, the Arkansas General Assembly amended its statute to allow new political parties to hold their nominating convention and submit their certificates of nomination at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the major parties' primary election. The Fifth Circuit held that the Libertarian Party's claim for declaratory relief has been rendered moot. Accordingly, the court vacated and remanded with directions to dismiss the complaint. The court affirmed the award of costs and attorney's fees.
Court Description: Wollman, Author, with Melloy and Gruender, Circuit Judges] Civil case - Voting. Action claiming Arkansas's ballot access statutory scheme violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments was rendered moot by the passage of an amending statute which permits new political parties to hold their nominating conventions and submit their certificates of nomination by noon on the day of the major parties' primary election. Remanded with directions to dismiss the complaint. The district court's award of attorneys' fees and costs to the plaintiff is affirmed.
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