LITTLE ROCK — A federal judge has delayed a trial that was scheduled to begin next Tuesday in Little Rock on whether the Green Party of Arkansas is being unconstitutionally denied a spot on state ballots.
U.S. District Judge Price Marshall said in an order filed Monday that he has rescheduled the trial to begin Aug. 16.
He ag reed to extend deadlines for the parties to file supplemental information after a June 16 hearing on whether the case should proceed to trial or be dismissed.
He has given the parties until July 10 to provide information about the party’s 2010 petition drive and whether the secretary of state’s office has certified enough signatures to allow party candidates to be placed on the ballot through that process. He ordered responsive briefs to be filed by July 23.
In a lawsuit filed last year,the party contends the processes it must go through to earn a spot for its candidates alongside Democrats and Republicans, such as the petition drive, are too onerous and expensive to undertake each election cycle.
The party contends it shouldn’t be necessary, in light of statewide support the party has demonstrated in Arkansas in past years.
The state contends that the hurdles for third parties are necessary to guard against a cluttered ballot.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 06/30/2010