DENVER—A federal appeals court in Denver has upheld a lower court’s ruling that New Mexico can’t apply its campaign reporting laws to two Albuquerque-based community action and education groups.
The 10th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling Monday agreeing that New Mexico Youth Organized and SouthWest Organizing Project weren’t required to register as political committees and file reports with the secretary of state.
A federal court in New Mexico last year ruled that applying state disclosure regulations to the groups falls outside guidelines by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The secretary of state’s office told the groups in 2008 that they must comply with the campaign reporting act after getting complaints from legislators criticized in mailers. The groups say the action violated their constitutional rights.
