Catoosa County GOP's ballot access lawsuit dismissed by federal judge
A federal judge has dismissed the Catoosa County Republican Party's lawsuit claiming that being forced to include candidates that party leaders didn't want on the May primary ballot violated its First Amendment right to freedom of association.
But the party will appeal, an advocate said, because the Supreme Court has ruled multiple times that parties have the right to associate with whom they choose.
Georgia law provides no discretion for a county party to deny a candidate's qualification, according to the ruling from United States District Judge William Ray II, released Monday. He also said the party's association rights weren't injured.
"Trying to limit who can run in a primary seems inconsistent with the purpose of a primary to start with," Ray said. "Perhaps the Catoosa Republican Party doesn't believe that the citizens of Catoosa County can for themselves intelligently decide which candidates best embody the principles of the Republican party. The court does not share such sentiment."
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/sep/10/catoosa-county-gops-ballot-access-lawsuit/