Federal appeals court asked to weigh in on lawsuit over North Dakota political ad law
The Burleigh County State’s Attorney’s Office wants a federal appeals court to dismiss a lawsuit against the office accusing it of free speech violations.
Former state lawmaker Brandon Prichard in the suit alleges the state’s corrupt practices law, which criminalizes lying or making intentionally misleading statements in political ads, is unconstitutional.
Prichard claims he, his wife, Kathryn and his political organization Citizens Alliance of North Dakota were subject to an unfair investigation under the statute by the Burleigh County State’s Attorney’s Office, which forced them to self-censor their political speech. The Republican is a controversial figure in North Dakota politics in part for his attacks on incumbent Republican lawmakers.
Burleigh County State’s Attorney Julie Lawyer asked U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor to toss the case. Lawyer in court records said that although her office had previously investigated the Prichards under the law, she declined to prosecute.
https://northdakotamonitor.com/briefs/federal-appeals-court-asked-to-weigh-in-on-lawsuit-over-north-dakota-political-ad-law/