Libertarian Party of North Carolina, et al. v. State of North Carolina -- On September 21, 2005, the Libertarian Party of NC filed suit in the Wake County Superior Court seeking a declaration that the state statutes concerning the recognition of political parties are invalid insofar as these statutes deny Libertarians their “constitutional rights to association and expression of their political philosophy and denies voters their rights to select candidates of their choice.” More specifically, the Libertarian Party challenges the onerous requirements for recognition as a political party, among them a requirement that the party must receive 10% of the vote statewide to retain recognition as a party in a subsequent election and a second requirement that in order for a new party to be recognized, the party must submit petitions signed by 2% of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent statewide election and signed by at least 200 registered voters in each of four different congressional districts in North Carolina. The North Carolina Green Party contacted the ACLU-NCLF and indicated that they would like to intervene in the lawsuit in order to challenge these ballot access restrictions. The ACLU-NCLF agreed represent the North Carolina Green Party in this litigation because of the important constitutional rights at stake, and the Libertarian Party has welcomed our involvement. Trial was held in this case the week of May 5, 2008. Unfortunately, Judge Hobgood ruled against us in a May 28, 2008 Order, choosing to adopt the State’s proposed order. We filed our notice of appeal on June 10, 2008, our Proposed Record on Appeal on September 29, 2008, and our Appellants’ brief on January 21, 2009. The State filed its Appellee Brief on February 23, 2009. Oral arguments were held Monday, April 20, 2009. We are currently awaiting a decision.