North Dakota Monitor’s Mary Steurer reports that a federal appeals court is being asked to weigh in on a lawsuit over North Dakota’s political ad law.
The lawsuit was filed by former Bismarck lawmaker Brandon Prichard and Citizens Alliance of North Dakota.
They are challenging a state law that makes it a crime to knowingly or recklessly publish false or misleading statements in political ads, campaign materials or election-related messages.
A federal judge allowed part of the lawsuit to move forward earlier this month against the Burleigh County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Burleigh County State’s Attorney Julie Lawyer says her office investigated Prichard under the law, but did not charge him, and does not plan to enforce the statute going forward.
Judge Daniel Traynor rejected the request to dismiss the case, saying past enforcement could still leave the plaintiffs facing a future threat of prosecution.
Steurer reports Lawyer has now asked the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to review that ruling.
Read Steurer’s full reporting at NorthDakotaMonitor.com.
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