Florida Judge Keeps Cory Mills on Ballot, Tossing Rival's Challenge With Prejudice
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 17
Florida Judge Keeps Cory Mills on Ballot, Tossing Rival's Challenge With Prejudice
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 17
Summary
Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh dismissed Michael Johnson’s lawsuit with prejudice, leaving Rep. Cory Mills on Florida’s primary ballot after state election officials had already accepted his qualifying paperwork.
Marsh said the new ballot-challenge law covers eligibility requirements such as age and residency, not the filing process, and called the secretary of state’s review of candidate oaths a ministerial duty.
Johnson’s lawyers had argued the statute was a broad catch-all that should reach alleged flaws in how Mills’ documents were signed and notarized, but Marsh warned that reading could trigger a flood of candidate litigation.
Anthony Sabatini, representing Johnson, said an appeal is likely, keeping alive a dispute that comes as Mills struggles to raise money and faces a House ethics investigation.