National Party Judicial Committee
The Judicial Committee is the final avenue of appeal, giving due process beyond the LNC for several enumerated areas of subject matter jurisdiction:
- suspension of affiliate parties
- suspension of officers
- suspension of National Committee members-at-large
- voiding of National Committee decisions
- challenges to platform planks
- challenges to Resolutions
- suspension of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates
Rules of Appellate Procedure
The Judicial Committee is charged by the Bylaws with establishing the rules by which people may make appeals and the procedures that the committee will follow in considering them. These rules are normally adopted at the start of each Judicial Committee term.
Judicial Committee Rules of Appellate Procedure for 2026-2030 (current)
Committee Terms
As currently configured, there are seven Judicial Committee members, who are elected at each regular, nonpresidential national convention.
- National Judicial Committee (2026-2030)
- National Judicial Committee (2022-2026)
- National Judicial Committee (2020-2022)
- National Judicial Committee (2016-2018)
- National Judicial Committee (2014-2016)
- National Judicial Committee (2012-2014)
- National Judicial Committee (2010-2012)
- National Judicial Committee (2008-2010)
- National Judicial Committee (2006-2008)
- National Judicial Committee (2004-2006)
- National Judicial Committee (2002-2004)
- National Judicial Committee (2000-2002)
- National Judicial Committee (1998-2000)
- National Judicial Committee (1996-1998)
- National Judicial Committee (1993-1996)
- National Judicial Committee (1991-1993)
- National Judicial Committee (1989-1991)
- National Judicial Committee (1987-1989)
- National Judicial Committee (1985-1987)
- National Judicial Committee (1983-1985)
- National Judicial Committee (1981-1983)
- National Judicial Committee (1979-1981)
- National Judicial Committee (1978-1979)
- National Judicial Committee (1977-1978)
- National Judicial Committee (1976-1977)
- National Judicial Committee (1975-1976)
- National Judicial Committee (1974-1975)
- National Judicial Committee (1973-1974)
- National Judicial Committee (1972-1973)
Past Chairs
The following people have chaired the Judicial Committee.
| Ken Moellman | 2026-present |
| Michael Seebeck | 2022-2026, sixth term[1] |
| Ken Krawchuk | 2022-2026, fifth term |
| Marc Montoni | 2022-2026, fourth term |
| Rob Stratton | 2022-2026, third term |
| Stephan Kinsella | 2022-2026, second term |
| Rob Latham | 2022-2026, first term |
| Mary Ruwart | 2020-2022 |
| Chuck Moulton | 2016-2020 |
| M Carling | 2014-2016 |
| Bill Hall | 2012-2014 |
| Bill Hall | 2010-2012 |
| Ruth Bennett | 2008-2010 |
| Ruth Bennett | 2006-2008 |
| ??? | 2004-2006 |
| Dean Ahmad | 2002-2004 |
| ??? | 2000-2002 |
| ??? | 1998-2000 |
| ??? | 1996-1998 |
| ??? | 1993-1996 |
| ??? | 1991-1993 |
| ??? | 1989-1991 |
| ??? | 1987-1989 |
| ??? | 1985-1987 |
| ??? | 1983-1985 |
| ??? | 1981-1983 |
| ??? | 1979-1981 |
| ??? | 1978-1978 |
| ??? | 1977-1978 |
| ??? | 1976-1977 |
| ??? | 1975-1976 |
| ??? | 1974-1975 |
| ??? | 1973-1974 |
| ??? | 1972-1973 |
Cases
How often the Judicial Committee is called into action has varied from term to term. There have been terms when they had no cases to consider at all, and only a few terms where they had more than a handful. The following are some known JC deliberations and opinions.
Suspension of affiliate party: Oregon (2015)
National Committee decision: mandatory convention registration fee (2012)
- Decision in Ploeger, et al vs. LNC (4/21/2012) (Appeal of LNC decision to impose a floor fee for national convention delegate attendance)
- Additional documents from Chuck Moulton's JC archive
Suspension of affiliate party: Oregon (2011)
- Decision in Wagner vs. LNC (8/25/2011) (Appeal of LNC decision to refuse recognition of LP of Oregon officers led by Wes Wagner)
- Clarification of decision in Wagner vs. LNC (9/23/2011) (Response to request for clarification of decision)
- Additional documents from Chuck Moulton's JC archive
Suspension of National Committee member-at-large: Lee Wrights (2009)
Discharge of National Director Eric O'Keefe (1982)
In re: Motion Authorizing the LNC to Enter into a Joint Fund-Raising Agreement with the RFK, Jr. 2024 Campaign
In re: The Suspension of LNC Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos
In re: Petition Initiated by George Phillies
In 2021, George Phillies filed a member petition requesting what appeared to be a declaratory judgment from the Judicial Committee concerning the role of Robert's Rules of Order in relation to the Party Bylaws but was rejected by the Judicial Committee as having no jurisdiction as there was no adverse decision by the LNC which the petitioners sought to appeal. The initial issue appeared to surround whether or not the Vice-Chair would automatically ascend to the position of Chair if the Chair was vacated with George Phillies taking the position that they would not which many stated was contradictory to Robert's Rules of Order (a position ruled on by Vice-Chair Ken Moellman when was appealed and overturned by the LNC in agreement with George Phillies.
In re: Delaware Appeals
The 
final ruling (info) was in favor of the Board chaired by Bill Hinds over that chaired by Will McVay.
In re: Massachusetts Appeals
In re: Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Region 1 Agreement Dispute
See In re: Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Region 1 Agreement Dispute
In re: Joint Fundraising Committee Request for Voidance Due to Drastically Changed Circumstances
See In re: Joint Fundraising Committee Request for Voidance Due to Drastically Changed Circumstances (D’Orazio v. LNC)
In re: Judicial Committee Appeal to Void LNC Decisions of October 6, 2024
See In re: Judicial Committee Appeal to Void LNC Decisions of October 6, 2024 (Phillies vs. LNC)
In re: Suspension of LNC Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos
See In re: Suspension of LNC Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos (Harlos vs. LNC)
In Re: Adoption of Revisions to Policy Manual Provision 1.01.4 in Email Ballot Ending January 2, 2024
See In Re: Adoption of Revisions to Policy Manual Provision 1.01.4 in Email Ballot Ending January 2, 2024 (Kosin vs. LNC)
In re: Conducting of Electronic LNC Business in Secret and Deletion of Past LNC Business List
See In re: Conducting of Electronic LNC Business in Secret and Deletion of Past LNC Business List (Robson vs. LNC)
In re: Revocation of Affiliate Status of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire
See In re: Revocation of Affiliate Status of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire (LPNH vs. LNC)
External Links
- ↑ The 2022-2026 Judicial Committee chose to establish a rotation of the Chair position among its members.