Case Summary
**Case Summary: Gary Johnson v. Commission on Presidential Debates (Docket Number: 5133408)**
**Court:** Unknown or not specified
**Filing Date:** Not specified
**Parties Involved:**
- **Plaintiff:** Gary Johnson
- **Defendant:** Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD)
**Background:**
Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico and the Libertarian Party's candidate for President of the United States in 2012 and 2016, filed a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates. The CPD is a non-profit organization that organizes the presidential debates in the United States.
**Claims:**
Johnson's legal claim revolved around allegations of unfair exclusion from the presidential debates hosted by the CPD. He argued that the criteria set by the CPD for candidates to qualify for debates were unjust and effectively disenfranchised third-party candidates, violating principles of free speech and equal access in the political process.
**Legal Issues:**
- Constitutionality of the CPD's debate inclusion criteria
- Allegations of discrimination against third-party candidates
- First Amendment rights related to free speech in political discourse
**Arguments:**
- Johnson contended that the CPD's criteria, which included polling thresholds and fundraising benchmarks, were designed to favor major party candidates and limit the visibility of alternative voices in the electoral process.
- The CPD argued that their criteria were necessary for maintaining the integrity and relevance of the debates, ensuring that only candidates with significant public support participated.
**Outcome:**
The specific outcome of this case was not provided in the prompt. The ruling could have implications for how presidential debates are conducted in the future, particularly regarding third-party candidates' participation.
**Significance:**
This case raised critical questions about the role of third-party candidates in American politics and the fairness of the electoral process, highlighting ongoing debates surrounding electoral access, representation, and the functioning of democratic institutions in the United States.
**Note:** Further details regarding hearings, court decisions, or implications were not specified in the provided information. For a comprehensive understanding, additional research may be needed to uncover the case's developments and outcome.