U.S. District Court Judge James M. Moody will hold a trial in Moore v Martin on Monday, July 27, at 9:15 a.m. This is the case that challenges the Arkansas petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates. That deadline is in March. It was in effect in 2014 and will be in effect in 2018 unless it is struck down. Ironically, after the lawsuit was filed, the Arkansas legislature moved it to November of the year before the election, for 2016 only.

Arkansas petition deadlines for non-presidential independents were struck down in 1975, 1977, and 1988. Arkansas petition deadlines for newly-qualifying parties were struck down in 1977 and 1996. One of those decisions was even summarily affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.