On the afternoon of September 6, a U.S. District Court in Michigan dismissed the Michigan Libertarian Party ballot access lawsuit. This was the case to get Gary Johnson on the ballot. The judge said he would explain why on September 7. The case is Libertarian Party of Michigan v Ruth Johnson.
The Libertarian Party is ballot-qualified in Michigan. The Secretary of State won’t print his name on the November ballot because his name appeared on the February Republican presidential primary ballot. He had tried to withdraw, but his withdrawal was received three minutes too late.
The state’s brief had hinted that the Michigan Libertarian Party is free to place Gary E. Johnson of Austin, Texas, on the ballot, but the state did not make this explicit. The party, when it had certified former Governor Gary Johnson, had asked that if the state would not do that, that instead the state should accept Gary E. Johnson of Texas. Gary E. Johnson of Texas is a former officer of the national Libertarian Party and he was a delegate to the national Libertarian Party convention in May.
It is difficult to know if the court decision will be appealed until all sides see the judge’s opinion.