A Superior Court in Vermont will hold a trial in Trudell v Markowitz on July 14-15. This is the lawsuit that challenges the June petition deadline for independent candidates, and for the nominees of unqualified parties. The Vermont primary is in August. Between 1890 and 1939, the independent candidate petition deadline had been in October, and between 1939 and 2009, it had been in September. The change from September to June, made in 2009, was drastic.

The judge in this case had already ruled against the state’s motion to dismiss the case. The prior procedural ruling makes it clear that the state must explain why it needs a deadline in June.