Common Cause Indiana v. Individual Members of the Indiana Election Commission

Dist. Ct. did not err in finding that Indiana statute (i.e. Partisan Balance Statute) that established process for electing judges to Marion County Superior Court violated 1st and 14th Amendments to U.S. Constitution. Record showed that instant statute, which limited ability of major political parties to nominate individuals to only half of available judicial positions, worked exactly as intended by ensuring that all candidates nominated by Democratic and Republican parties were elected in uncontested general election. As such, said statute essentially denied voters effective and meaningful vote because their vote was irrelevant to outcome of general election. Ct. rejected govt. claims that instant statute was constitutional because: (1) instant statute did not burden right to vote, or if it did, govt. had valid regulatory interest in ensuring partisan balance of judges on Superior Court bench; and (2) instant statute was consistent with govt. interest in keeping costs of judicial elections to minimum.