In April 2012, the Illinois Libertarian Party filed a ballot access case in U.S. District Court, challenging: (1) the law that says new parties must run a full slate of candidates; (2) the June petition deadline. Judge Joan Gottschall then enjoined the full-slate law, but did not rule on its constitutionality. The case is Libertarian Party of Illinois v Illinois State Board of Elections, 1:12cv-2511.

Later, the case was transferred to a new U.S. District Court Judge, Thomas Durkin. When new judges are appointed, it is customary that they receive a workload of old, pending cases. Then, on November 19, 2013, the Illinois Libertarian Party case was re-assigned again, to an even newer judge, Andrea Wood, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate a few weeks ago.