LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) 鈥� A federal judge has tossed out a 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鈥檚 primary. The party鈥檚 executive committee in July nullified that proposal and several other actions by the convention, saying proper steps weren鈥檛 taken to consider them.
鈥淎lthough plaintiffs鈥� positions are understandable, their claims must be dismissed because federal court is not the appropriate forum to resolve their dispute,鈥� Miller wrote in the seven-page order.
Voters in Arkansas aren鈥檛 required to choose a party when they register, and the majority of voters don鈥檛 pick Republican or Democratic.
Attorney General Tim Griffin, whose office represented the state in the case, said he appreciated the judge dismissing the case.
鈥淭his dispute was settled within the Republican Party of Arkansas months ago,鈥� Griffin said in a statement. "It never made sense for the state to be sued over it.鈥�
The lawsuit had named the Arkansas Republican Party chairman, the secretary of state and members of the state board of election commissioners as defendants.
Jennifer Lancaster, the lead plaintiff in the case, said she and the other delegates were "prayerfully and strategically" considering their next steps.
鈥淲e stood up to protect the Republican Party from being hijacked by Democrats voting in our primaries,鈥� Lancaster said in a statement. 鈥淲e believe that Republican nominees should be chosen by Republican voters. That鈥檚 not radical 鈥� it鈥檚 foundational.鈥�
Andrew Demillo, The Associated Press
