On June 25, the Sixth Circuit upheld Ohio regulations that do not permit anyone running for judge to start to raise campaign funds until four months before the election. The U.S. District Court had also upheld the regulation. Here is the decision in Platt v Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Ohio Supreme Court, 17-3461.

The plaintiff wanted to run for Court of Common Pleas Judge in Hamilton County in 2014. The filing deadline for candidates was 90 days before the election. He complained that he needed to start early to raise campaign funds, because he didn’t want to file unless he was successful in raising enough campaign contributions. But the rules of the Ohio Supreme Court forbad him from even asking for money until four months before the election. That gave him only 30 days to start raising money, before he had to decide whether to file. His lawsuit emphasized that he is not a judge; he is only someone who was considering whether to run for judge. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.