Judge sets trial date for campaign finance case

by Associated Press

Published: January 14,2013

Tags: bench, campaign, campaign finance, case, court, donation, donor, election, judge, judicial, justice, lawsuit, political, political campaign, Politics, poll, public official, reform, trial, vote, voter, Voting

ABERDEEN — A federal judge has scheduled a trial for June 3 on challenge to Mississippi’s campaign finance law.

At issue is whether a citizen must register with the state before spending more than $200 in a year to influence voters. The lawsuit contends they do not.

In 2011, five Lafayette County residents sued the state of Mississippi, claiming the law limits their fundamental free-speech and association rights. They want the law declared unconstitutional.

They sought to campaign for passage of a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the government from taking private property by eminent domain and transferring it to other persons.

The issue was on the Nov. 8, 2011 general election ballot. It was passed by voters.

The nonjury trial will be before U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock.