On October 10, U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill held another hearing in Green Party of Connecticut v Garfield, the case that challenges the discriminatory aspects of Connecticut’s public funding program for candidates for state office. Judge Underhill again denied motions for summary judgment, and ruled that a trial is needed. That trial will be in December, and the Judge hopes to rule in January 2009. Thanks to Caleb Kleppner for this news.

Connecticut’s public funding law requires independent candidates, and nominees of parties that did not poll a large vote in the last election, to submit petitions of 20% of the last vote cast, in order to qualify for full public funding. Such candidates must also obtain contributions from a substantial number of voters. By contrast, major party nominees only need to worry about obtaining contributions from that same number of donors.