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Mediation Date Set in Libertarian National Committee, Inc.. v. Saliba (5:23-cv-11074)

By Jordan Willow Evans on October 5, 2023 11:07 AM

On October 4, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy ordered mediation in the lawsuit Libertarian National Committee v. Saliba, E.D., 5:23cv-11074. This order came two days after the Libertarian National Committee submitted documentation arguing against a Motion to Stay and in defense of a preliminary injunction against the Michigan organization that had identified itself as the official Libertarian Party of Michigan affiliate.

Earlier in the week, on October 2, 2023, two responses were filed in response to the motion, both of which were submitted by the attorneys representing the Libertarian National Committee, Joseph J. Zito and Oscar A. Rodriguez. 

The first motion, which readers can access here, requests that the Court grant the Libertarian National Committee’s motion for a preliminary injunction and award it “any and all other relief to which Plaintiff may show itself to be entitled.” The second motion, accessible here, asks the Court to deny the Michigan group’s Motion for Stay. In the event such a motion is denied, the Libertarian National Committee is requesting the ordering of a substantial bond to protect its interests.

As of this moment, no stay has been granted. Mediation is scheduled to commence later this month, on October 20, 2023.

With thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for reaching out to Independent Political Report with information regarding the mediation date.

Independent Political Report has followed the Libertarian Party of Michigan situation since its beginning. Previous coverage of the dispute can be read here:

Jordan Willow Evans

Jordan Willow Evans is an editor and policy analyst based in Goffstown, New Hampshire. She serves as managing editor of Independent Political Report and executive director of the Outsider Media Foundation, a nonprofit news organization focused on independent and alternative political movements. She has studied third parties and political outsiders since her student years.

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One Comment

  1. Shawn L. October 6, 2023

    I’ll take the under on the likelihood of mediation achieving anything.

    The MC is too invested in this tactic to fork state parties out of their control via a local faction declaring a convention invalid and holding their own and then have the LNC eliminate the undesired side of the fork using lawsuits. (Essentially disaffiliating without disaffiliating)

    That said, the judge is right to try to see if this can be resolved outside of the courts.

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