On January 8, U.S. District Court Judge William O. Bertelsman, a Carter appointee, ruled from the bench after oral argument in Sweeney v Crigler, e.d., 2:19cv-46. He ruled that Kentucky’s law requiring independent and minor party candidates for state office to file a declaration of candidacy in January of election years violates the U.S. Constitution. The order will be in writing on January 10. This is a Libertarian Party case.

Republican and Democratic candidates must file a declaration of candidacy in January, but that is clearly necessary, because their primary is in May. But minor parties (parties that polled less than 20% for president) nominate by convention, so there is no rational need for a declaration of candidacy for them.