Illinois Campaign Finance Law Blocked on Constitutional Grounds

An Illinois law restricting financial contributions to judicial elections likely infringes too much political activity to pass muster under the First Amendment, a federal judge in Chicago ruled, temporarily blocking sections of the law after a constitutional challenge by two conservative political action committees.

Judge John J. Tharp Jr. ruled tentatively in favor of Restoration PAC and Fair Courts America. He issued a preliminary injunction against one provision that bars out-of-state contributions to judicial candidates and another that imposes a $500,000 cap on donations to groups fundraising for their campaigns.

Tharp, writing for the US District Court for the Northern ...