FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   Thursday, June 04, 2015 
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern  (605) 773-3215
 

  
U.S. Senate Candidate Clayton Walker’s Appeal to
U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Dismissed
 

PIERRE, S.D –   Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the Federal District Court decision dismissing Clayton G. Walker’s lawsuit to be placed on the November 2014 ballot as an independent candidate for United States Senate. Walker was indicted on June 17, 2014 for state election law violations.

The Court ruled that the State’s nominating-petition deadline and signature requirement did not burden Walker’s associational rights, and were reasonable restrictions that advanced important State interests.

In October 2014, Walker argued that South Dakota’s petition requirements were unconstitutional and that petition filing deadline of April was too early. Federal District Court Judge Lawrence L. Piersol had ruled that Walker was not entitled to an injunction and that South Dakota petition requirements were constitutional and dismissed his case.

A trial date has been set for July 20 in Hughes County. Walker is presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty.

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