On September 13, the Montana Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that Roger Roots should remain on the ballot as the Libertarian Party nominee for Secretary of State. Essmann v State, 16-0522. The state chair of the Republican Party had sued the Secretary of State to force her to remove Roots. Jeff Essmann charged that Roots had not filed one particular campaign finance report and had been late with another report.

The Court found that Roots had filed all needed documents, and one had got lost after he filed it with the state, although it was found again. The court agreed that Roots had been late with another document, but ruled the punishment for being late is a fine, not removal from the ballot. Thanks to Mike Fellows for this news.