A federal judge has upheld New Jersey’s four-year residency rule for political candidates that knocked former Olympic great Carl Lewis off the ballot.
Judge Noel Hillman ruled Thursday that the residency requirement doesn’t violate Lewis’ guarantee of equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Lewis lawyer Bill Tambussi had argued that the rule is unconstitutional. Lawyers for New Jersey and members of the state’s Republican Party say the rule has been on the books for 167 years.
There will be an appeal.
A separate challenge has been filed in state court.
Secretary of State Kim Guadagno (GWAH-dah-noh) ruled that the 49-year-old New Jersey native didn’t meet the residency rule. The Republican ordered Lewis’ name stricken from the Democratic primary ballot in the 8th District in south-central New Jersey.
