Part of GOP Primary Elections Lawsuit Dismissed

A federal appeals court has dismissed part of a lawsuit that seeks to allow only Republican voters to participate in Montana's GOP primaries.

NBC Montana reported yesterday that a new state law addresses a portion of the legal complaint by allowing political parties to make their own rules for choosing internal party leaders.

The law's passage prompted the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week to grant its dismissal. But the main issue remains over whether Republicans can close their primaries to independents and voters from other parties.

Republican Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls sponsored the bill that led to the dismissal. He says his bill was meant to make it more difficult for a judge to close Republican primaries.

Republican legislator and Bozeman attorney Matthew Monforton says the plaintiffs got what they wanted in the judge's order.