On July 11, U.S. District Court Judge James M. Moody, Jr., held a trial in Libertarian Party of Arkansas v Martin. The issue is the 2015 law that says new parties (which nominate by convention, not primary) must choose all their nominees (except President) by November of the year before the election. The Libertarian Party did choose some nominees by that deadline last year, but held another state convention in early 2016 and nominated some more.

Judge Moody said he would rule by July 18 on whether the new nominees can be listed on the November ballot. The Libertarian Party is the only ballot-qualified party in Arkansas this year, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties. However, some other parties have petitioned to be ballot-qualified just for the presidential election. The deadline for that presidential party petition is August 1.