The U.S. Supreme Court set a deadline for New York Attorney General Letitia James to respond to an emergency petition filed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy is seeking to have his name restored to the New York presidential ballot after being disqualified due to a residency dispute.
Kennedy’s legal team filed the petition last Monday, arguing that New York courts wrongfully removed him from the ballot on Sept. 7, following a ruling that questioned his residency.
His attorneys contend that his temporary residence in Katonah, New York, satisfies state requirements, and voters should have the right to cast their ballots for him.
The case was assigned to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who instructed James and her team to submit a written response by Wednesday, Sept. 25 afternoon.
Kennedy, who briefly campaigned as a presidential candidate, has since endorsed Donald Trump and is attempting to remove his name from ballots in key swing states.
His lawyers argue that keeping him off the New York ballot would deny voters the opportunity to support their chosen candidate, regardless of his withdrawal.
Despite his efforts to remove his name from ballots in several states, Kennedy remains listed in crucial battlegrounds like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada. His case in New York is the first of its kind to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
While Trump is not expected to win New York, polling suggests his support in the state could be stronger than any Republican in the last 40 years.
A recent Siena College poll indicated that independent candidates like Kennedy could potentially influence Trump’s share of the vote in the Empire State.
