New York State Bd. of Elections v. López Torres

The State of New York requires that political parties select their nominees for Supreme Court Justice at a convention of delegates chosen by party members in a primary election. We consider whether this electoral system violates the First Amendment rights of prospective party candidates.

I

A

The Supreme Court of New York is the State’s trial court of general jurisdiction, with an Appellate Division that hears appeals from certain lower courts. See N. Y. Const., Art. *199VI, §§ 7, 8. Under New York’s current Constitution, the State is divided into 12 judicial districts, see Art. VI, § 6(a); N. Y.…