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Let's talk politics.
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
Posted by Joe Turner @ 10:09:27 am

You can understand why the Libertarian Party is complaining about the "Top Two" primary election slated for Aug. 19. It's highly unlikely that any Libertarian will be one of the Top Two in any race.

For Immediate Release

Further information:
Rachel Hawkridge – 206-769-2492
Richard Shepard – 253-383-2235

Libertarian Party says Washington State defying U.S. District Court!

By continuing with its plan for a “Top Two” primary, Washington State is defying the U. S. District Court, Western Division. The Court issued a permanent injunction against Washington’s Top Two primary, signed by Judge Zilly. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that on its face, the Top Two was constitutional, didn’t change the fact that an injunction had already been issued.

[More:]

“The upcoming ‘top two’ primary in Washington is still illegal for three reasons,” said Richard Shepard, attorney for the Libertarian Party. “First, the trial court injunction is still in place. Second, it violates the Libertarian Party’s right to control the use of its own name. Third, it deprives the Libertarian Party of any meaningful access to the general election ballot,” he said.

“What will this mean to Washington’s elections?” asks the Libertarian Party’s Regional Representative, Rachel Hawkridge. “Will our election results be invalidated? Ignored? Subject to more lawsuits? Will Washington, like Michigan and Florida in the primary, be left out of the process? Or the subject of jokes for years come, a la hanging chads?”

Whether convenience or wishful thinking, everyone seems to have forgotten this injunction, at least until the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a request for briefs “on the issues raised but not resolved in the appeal” to that court. The court also asked for briefing regarding “any intervening authority on the ballot access and trademark claims that has been filed since these issues were originally briefed.”

Look for surprises to come . . . we may have a major upset on the eve of election!
###

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/documentvault/FinalInjunction-856.pdf