David French has this analysis in National Review, arguing that even on the first ballot, Republican delegates to the national convention can vote for anyone for President they wish. However, before the convention starts, there could conceivably be a rule in place binding them, as he acknowledges. The fact that such a rule existed in 2012 does not mean it necessarily will apply in 2016, he says. French is an anti-Trump Republican who was briefly proposed as an independent presidential candidate by Bill Kristol. French is an attorney.

On June 9, U.S. District Court Judge Karen Schreier issued a 16-page opinion in Libertarian Party of South Dakota v Krebs, 4:15cv-4111. It denies the state’s request for an opinion upholding the South Dakota petition deadline for new party petitions. That deadline is in late March.

South Dakota requires primaries for all parties, even new parties. The state defended the March deadline on the grounds that it takes time to prepare for a new party’s primary. However, the opinion says the state would be free to let newly-qualifying parties nominate by convention. This is especially obvious in South Dakota, because all parties in South Dakota, new and old, use conventions in the summer to nominate for certain state offices.