A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit aimed at making Arkansas’ GOP primary open only to registered Republicans.
U.S. District Judge Brian Miller on Monday granted the motion to dismiss the lawsuit that had been filed by about two dozen of the delegates from the state Republican Party’s convention last year.
The lawsuit stemmed from delegates at the state Republican Party convention voting to allow only registered GOP voters to participate in the party’s primary. The party’s executive committee in July nullified that proposal and several other actions by the convention, saying proper steps weren’t taken to consider them.
“Although plaintiffs’ positions are understandable, their claims must be dismissed because federal court is not the appropriate forum to resolve their dispute,” Miller wrote in the seven-page order.
Voters in Arkansas aren’t required to choose a party when they register, and the majority of voters don’t pick Republican or Democratic.
Attorney General Tim Griffin, whose office represented the state in the case, said he appreciated the judge dismissing the case.
Attorney General Tim Griffin, whose office represented the state in the case, said he appreciated the judge dismissing the case.
