Jones
National Ass'n for the Advancement of Colored People v. Jones
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Hall, J.
Plaintiffs appeal from the district court’s 12(b)(6) dismissal of them complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. This court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 .
This court reviews a motion to dismiss de novo. Stone v. Travelers Corp., 58 F.3d 434, 436-37 (9th Cir.1995).
Because plaintiffs allege no cognizable constitutional injury, we AFFIRM.
I
Plaintiff Charles Lindner is a former judicial candidate. The remaining plaintiffs are voters and associations of voters who claim that they lack wealth and access to wealth.
Defendants are Bill Jones, the Secretary of State of California; the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters (“Registrar”); members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (“Board”); and the Board itself.
Plaintiffs challenge California’s campaign finance system for judicial elections. They claim that Los Angeles County (“County”) has in place a “wealth primary,” which requires the expenditure of a substantial amount of money to run a “meaningful” campaign. This process effectively excludes candidates who are neither wealthy nor indigent from running a “meaningful” campaign and it prevents voters who are neither wealthy nor indigent…