Montana: Judge rules against election materials law | Great Falls Tribune
A federal judge has once again struck down a law that requires candidates who criticize the voting records of another candidate to offer details on the vote. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by GOP candidate J.C. Kantorowicz who is running for the state Senate District 10 seat in the June 7 primary against fellow GOP Steve Fitzpatrick, who now serves in the state House of Representatives. Kantorowicz filed the lawsuit against Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl, Attorney General Tim Fox and Leo Gallagher, Lewis and Clark County attorney, in April, claiming that his First Amendment rights to criticize Fitzpatrick were muzzled by a state law that he described as an “incumbent protection act.” Fitzpatrick had filed a complaint against Kantorowicz in April with the COPP office. U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen made the ruling Monday.