On Friday, February 19, U.S. District Court Judge James M. Moody held a trial in Libertarian Party of Arkansas v Martin, e.d., 4:15cv-635. The issue is the 2015 law that says newly-qualifying parties must hold their nominating conventions an entire year before the general election, whereas the already-established parties don’t nominate candidates until the March primaries. See this story, which is quite detailed. The hearing lasted four hours.

Arkansas is the only state that has ever required any type of party to nominate all its candidates in the odd year before the election. Judge Moody said he hopes to have the decision on whether to grant injunctive relief out early next week.