United States Seventh Circuit

Decision upholding Illinois' ballot access requirements for independent legislative candidates is reversed where the requirements - the most restrictive in the nation - operate to unconstitutionally burden the freedom of political association guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments, despite the state's asserted interest in deterring party splintering, factionalism, and frivolous candidacies.

Appellate Information

• Argued 06/09/2006
• Decided 09/18/2006
• Published 09/18/2006

Judges

• SYKES, Circuit Judge., Before RIPPLE, MANION, and SYKES, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Richard C. Miadich (argued), Olson, Hagel & Fishburn, Sacramento, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Gary S. Feinerman (argued), Office of the Attorney General, Springfield, IL, for Defendants-Appellees.