Expedited process planned for Conn. GOP lawsuit

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A spokesman for Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says a lawsuit filed by the Connecticut Republican Party over the order of candidates on November's election ballot is being fast-tracked to the state Supreme Court.

Av Harris told The Associated Press that instead of holding a hearing in Hartford Superior Court on Tuesday, as originally planned, both sides decided to bypass the trial court, agree upon a set of facts in the case and eventually have the justices decide whether state election law is being properly applied.

Harris said the expedited process will save both time and money.

The GOP maintains that its candidates should have the top line because Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ultimately won in 2010 with votes he received as a Working Families Party candidate.