By Thomas Fitzgerald
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader will appeal a state court decision that denied him a place on the November ballot in Pennsylvania on the grounds that the ruling violates his free speech rights, the candidate's lawyer said today.
"We're going to hit it hard," said lawyer Samuel C. Stretton, who called yesterday's Commonwealth Court decision "so bad it is unbelievable."
He said he would file an appeal with the state Supreme Court today or tomorrow.
The Commonwealth Court ruled that Nader was not entitled to a ballot spot because he violated state law by agreeing to run on the Reform Party ticket in Michigan while attempting to qualify in Pennsylvania as an independent. Pennsylvania law prohibits such cross-filing by candidates.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/breaking_news/9545152.htm