Opinion ID: 765960
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lack of Case or Controversy/Ripeness--AIP and ALP

Text: 25 The second basis for this appeal is the minor parties' challenge to the district court's grant of the State's motion todismiss. We review de novo a district court's decision to dismiss a complaint for lack of ripeness. See Municipality of Anchorage v. United States, 980 F.2d 1320, 1322-23 (9th Cir. 1992). Where the plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief, the relevant inquiry is whether there is a substantial controversy . . . of sufficient immediacy and reality to warrant the issuance of a declaratory judgment. Aydin Corp. v. Union of India, 940 F.2d 527, 528 (9th Cir. 1991) (quoting Maryland Cas. Co. v. Pacific Coal & Oil Co., 312 U.S. 270, 273 (1941)) [emphasis in original]. The minor parties argue that the dismissal was erroneous because they both presented actual cases or controversies. We disagree.
26 In support of its argument that the district court erred in finding that this action is not ripe, the minor parties point to the AIP's adoption of Bylaw 5.15, which provides: In any election for public office where the Alaskan Independence Party is authorized by law to nominate a candidate, the State Committee shall be empowered to present a nominee in the name of the Alaskan Independence Party, or to reject any candidate not an Alaskan. The minor parties argue that this conflicts with Alaska Statute S 15.25.030, which allows candidate self-selection by filing a declaration of candidacy. However, as recognized by the district court, this bylaw only comes into play if state law authorizes the party to nominate a candidate. For example, if an unopposed incumbent candidate dies, becomes incapacitated, or is disqualified, that candidate's place on the ballot may be filled through a party petition. See O'Callaghan, 914 P.2d at 1255 n.6; Alaska Stat. SS 15.25.056, 15.25.110 (Michie 1989). Under those circumstances, the nominee would be selected by the party's central committee or by a manner prescribed in the bylaws. See Alaska Stat. S 15.25.130 (Michie 1989). This is the situation addressed by Bylaw 5.15. However, this is the only circumstance where the AIP would be authorized by law to nominate a candidate--in all other cases the eligible voters of Alaska would do so. See Alaska Stat. S 15.25.010 (Michie 1989) (Candidates for the elective state executive and state and national legislative offices shall be nominated in a primary election by direct vote of the people in the manner prescribed by this chapter.). Therefore, Bylaw 5.15 does not conflict with Alaska laws providing for a blanket primary. 27 The minor parties also cite Article IX, Section 9.02 of the AIP rules as being in conflict with state law. This section provides that: 28 The fact that a voter has voted in the Alaskan Independence Party Primary Election shall not disqualify that voter from voting in the primary election of any other political party or parties where that voter's participation in the primary election of the Alaskan Independence Party is authorized or permitted by the rules of the other party, or by the statutes of the United States or the State of Alaska. 29 The minor parties argue that this rule requires that a voter be able to vote for a candidate of his party and also a candidate of another party for the same office, and that this conflicts with Alaska's blanket primary laws. However, there is nothing in the language of Section 9.02 which supports such a construction. In fact, this rule actually supports a blanket primary. Under this rule, just as in a blanket primary, voting for an AIP candidate for Governor would not disqualify a voter from voting for a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. However, there is nothing in the rule that specifies that the voter must be allowed to vote for both parties' candidates for Governor, and therefore the rule does not conflict with Alaska's laws providing for a blanket primary. 30 Because the minor parties have failed to identify any AIP rules which conflict with the State's blanket primary system and do not present any other evidence of an actual case or controversy associated with thatparty, we conclude that the AIP's claims must be dismissed for lack of ripeness.
31 The minor parties also argue that the challenge of the ALP is ripe because it opposes the primary election system as a concept and desires that each party have the right of self control over the nomination of its candidates. However, no allegation was made of how the ALP would otherwise nominate candidates, and there is no indication that it has adopted a procedure which would conflict with the State's blanket primary system. The minor parties argue that the ALP's action is nevertheless ripe due to the fact that the ALP was not (and is not) ballot qualified and therefore could not place candidates on the primary ballot. Therefore, according to this argument, the ALP's candidates for the general election would have to be designated by the ALP, and this would violate state law. However, Alaska statutes provide for the inclusion on both the primary and general election ballots of candidates of a political group (an organization which represents a political program but does not qualify as a party), and these provisions do not contain any requirements relating to how a political group may decide which candidates it supports. See O'Callaghan, 914 P.2d at 1255 n.9; Alaska Stat. SS 15.25.140-205 (Michie 1989). Therefore, the designation of candidates by the ALP, which was not and is not ballot qualified, does not conflict with Alaska law. 32 Because the minor parties cannot demonstrate a substantial controversy . . . of sufficient immediacy and reality, Aydin Corp., 940 F.2d at 528, we affirm the district court's dismissal of their claims for lack of ripeness.