Tuesday, 24 December 2024

UPDATE: Michigan Supreme Court Rules On Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Ballot Status

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The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will remain on the state’s presidential ballot.

Last week, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled RFK Jr. could remove his name from the state’s ballot.

“While the request was made close to the deadline for defendant to give notice of candidates to local election officials, it was not made so late that laches should apply,” the ruling read.

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However, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson petitioned for an “emergency ruling” in the lawsuit.

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The Detroit News reports:

Kennedy, who had been nominated for president by the Natural Law Party in Michigan, wasn’t entitled to the “extraordinary relief” of having the court require his name be removed from the ballot, with less than two months remaining before Election Day, the Supreme Court majority wrote in a brief order.

Kennedy had “neither pointed to any source of law that prescribes and defines a duty to withdraw a candidate’s name from the ballot nor demonstrated his clear legal right to performance of this specific duty,” the court’s majority order said.

Democratic-nominated Justice Elizabeth Welch penned a concurring statement, noting that Kennedy had waited “more than four months” after he was nominated for president before asking Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office to remove his name.

“When plaintiff made his request, defendant faced a deadline for ballot printing that was two weeks away,” Welch wrote. “Additionally, the Natural Law Party, which opposed plaintiff’s efforts to remove himself from the ballot, had no opportunity to field a candidate and faced considerable prejudice.”

Per WILX:

Kennedy previously received the nomination from the Michigan Natural Law Party, a minor party. According to the ruling, a candidate cannot withdraw from a race once they accept a minor party’s nomination.


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