On Friday, just a week and a day before the Arkansas Libertarian Party intends to hold another nominating convention, a judge heard arguments on whether the names of any newly nominated candidates must be placed on Nov. 8 general election ballots.

In a 2015 federal lawsuit, the party accuses Secretary of State Mark Martin of violating the party's rights by enforcing a state law enacted in 2015 that required the party, newly recognized in Arkansas, to hold its nominating convention in October -- four months before the Democratic and Republican parties' scheduled March 1 primaries.

Under Arkansas law, new political parties must choose candidates through a nominating convention instead of a primary.