Filed Date: Sept. 11, 2018
Closed Date: Nov. 5, 2018
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This was a case about alleged unfair ballot restrictions.
On September 11, 2018, the Libertarian Party of Maryland sued the Maryland State Board of Elections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, asserting claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging violations of its rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The case was assigned to District Judge George Levi Russell III. Represented by a private attorney, the plaintiff sought injunctive relief to prohibit the State Board of Elections from removing a candidate for Judge from the general election ballots. Plaintiffs also sought reasonable attorney’s fees and damages sustained as a result of the alleged unconstitutional acts. They claimed that the candidate was wrongfully excluded as a candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County.
Previously, on July 25, 2018, four registered voters filed an action in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, against the candidate and the Maryland Libertarian Party to challenge the candidate's nomination. Egbuonu v. Ademiluyi, No. CAL18-26458 (Md. Cir. Ct., Prince George’s Cty.). Maryland election law requires nominations by “minor” parties, including the Libertarian Party, to accord with the bylaws of the Party. Here, the candidate was not a member of the Libertarian Party, as was required by Party bylaws.
The plaintiff filed a motion to stay those state court proceedings on September 12, 2018. The defendant filed a response in opposition to the motion to stay on September 14, 2018.
The plaintiff filed a motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on September 16, 2018. They claimed the public had an interest in voting for all nominees who are qualified to run for office, that they are likely to succeed on the merits, that the balance of equities weighed in their favor, and that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of the requested relief. They sought a temporary restraining order to bypass the federal deadline for absentee ballot distribution and to delay preparation and distribution of ballots until the preliminary injunction hearing was held.
The defendant filed a response in opposition to the motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on September 18, 2018. They argued that the plaintiff was unlikely to succeed on the merits of their claim, that the plaintiff would not be irreparably harmed by the absence of preliminary relief, and that the balance of equities weighed in favor of denying the requested relief. The plaintiff filed a reply to the response to the motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on September 19, 2018, contending that they were likely to succeed on the merits, that the public interest is in favor of a preliminary injunction, and that irreparable injury to the plaintiffs is likely without the requested relief.
A hearing on the plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction was held on September 20, 2018. On September 20, 2018, the Court denied the motion for temporary restraining order and denied as moot the motion to stay court proceedings, finding that the plaintiff did not demonstrate a clear likelihood of success on the merits.
On November 5, 2018, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case.
Summary Authors
LFAA (11/14/2024)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7862716/parties/libertarian-party-of-maryland-v-maryland-state-board-of-elections/
Russell, George Levi (Maryland)
Ademiluyi, April Teniade (Maryland)
Trento, Andrea William (Maryland)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7862716/libertarian-party-of-maryland-v-maryland-state-board-of-elections/
Last updated Aug. 9, 2025, 9:13 p.m.
State / Territory: Maryland
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 11, 2018
Closing Date: Nov. 5, 2018
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff is the Libertarian Party of Maryland
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Amount Defendant Pays: 0
Issues
Voting: