FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE CERTIFIED MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION REQUIRED REMOVAL OF TWO CANDIDATES FOR SUPREME COURT FROM THE BALLOT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the failure to timely file the certified minutes of the convention of the Democratic Committee for the Thirteenth Judicial District required removal of the names of two Supreme Court Justice candidates from the ballot:

Under the statutory scheme, as to nominations flowing from a judicial nominating convention, certificates of party nomination must be filed not later than the day after the last day to hold such convention, and the minutes of such convention, duly certified by the Chair and Secretary, must be filed within 72 hours after the adjournment of the convention (see Election Law § 6-158[6]). The statute requires that both documents be filed; the certificate of party nomination may not stand alone, as the certified minutes provide the necessary authentication that the convention made the nominations set forth in the certificate … .

Since no certified convention minutes have been filed, and no reason has been offered as a basis upon which such failure could be excused, we are left with no alternative but to hold that the failure to file certified convention minutes renders the attempt to nominate these candidates ineffectual, and their names must be removed from the ballot. Matter of Fuentes v Catalano, 2018 NY Slip Op 07034, Second Dept 10-18-18

ELECTION LAW (FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE CERTIFIED MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION REQUIRED REMOVAL OF TWO CANDIDATES FOR SUPREME COURT FROM THE BALLOT (SECOND DEPT))/JUDGES (ELECTION LAW, FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE CERTIFIED MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION REQUIRED REMOVAL OF TWO CANDIDATES FOR SUPREME COURT FROM THE BALLOT (SECOND DEPT))