Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno had kicked Lewis off the ballot, ruling he did not meet the residency requirement
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Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis is headed to court to battle Republicans who say he hasn't lived in New Jersey long enough to run for state Senate. TRENTON — The state Supreme Court has declined to hear Carl Lewis's appeal, dealing yet another blow to the Olympic track and field champion’s hopes to run for state Senate.
Lewis was kicked off the ballot after Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, in her role of secretary of state, ruled Lewis, a Democrat, had not lived in the state for the four years required to run for state Senate.
Guadagno based her decision partly on the fact that Lewis voted in California as recently as 2009. A state appeals court and U.S. District Court judge so far have refused to overturn her decision.
Lewis is challenging the federal constitutionality of the residency requirement, but his attorney, Bill Tambussi, has said he meets it anyway.
The Supreme Court order said they would not hear the case because there was “no warrant for the Court to address the federal constitutional claims that remain pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.”
“Guadagno vindicated,” wrote Mark Sheridan, the attorney for the two Burlington County Republican leaders who challenged Lewis’s residency.
The case is not over, however. A federal appeals court Thursday remanded it back to U.S. District Court Judge Noel L. Hillman to decide if Lewis’s civil rights were violated by Guadagno’s decision.
Tambussi said he wants to create a “factual record” which would mean requesting documents from the state and even potentially calling Guadagno to the stand.
Previous coverage:
• U.S. appeals court orders that Carl Lewis be placed on N.J. Senate primary ballot
• Federal court to rule on Carl Lewis bid for Senate seat, request to delay printing of ballots
• Carl Lewis turns to federal appeals court in quest to run for N.J. state Senate
• N.J. appeals court agrees Olympic medalist Carl Lewis cannot run for Senate
• Lt. Gov. Guadagno rules Carl Lewis doesn't meet residency requirement to run for N.J. Senate
• Judge orders Lt. Gov. Guadagno to show why Carl Lewis should be excluded from mail-in ballots
• Lt. Gov. Guadagno rules Carl Lewis doesn't meet residency requirement to run for N.J. Senate
• Judge dismisses Republican attempt to block Senate ballot of Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis
• Carl Lewis testifies at NJ residency challenge
• Republicans challenge N.J. Senate candidacy of Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis
• Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis announces plans to run for N.J. Senate
