Libertarian Jeff Amason got his day in court, but it looks like it wont be enough to reach his goal of being placed on the November ballot for Georgia House District 21.

Amason filed an emergency court appearance with Fulton County Superior Court on July 28, seeking to compel the Secretary of States Office to place his name on the ballot after it was disqualified based on a notary error. But when the judge met with the two sides to make a decision in court Monday, there was one problem: Amason had named the wrong person in his lawsuit.

The Cherokee County attorney was representing himself and Jeff Amason for Liberty Inc., his election apparatus, in the case. He filed the suit against Linda Ford, the director of elections in the Secretary of States Office. But only Secretary of State Brian Kemp, as Georgias chief elections officer, has the ability to grant ballot entry.

Amason said he was previously informed by the Secretary of States Office that Ford was the wrong person to sue, but he thought the defense was saying so as a tactic to discourage him from filing the lawsuit.

I sympathize with your situation, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Adams said. What Im going to do, Mr. Amason, is let you take any next steps you believe are appropriate.

Though Amason can now file a claim against Kemp, his chances of making the ballot are effectively shuttered. Thats because the deadline for ballot candidates is Aug. 29.

State law requires any lawsuit against a chief officer, such as the secretary of state, to give at least five days notice before the case can begin. So even if Amason does file another lawsuit, the ballot deadline will have come and gone.

Amason said he was still considering pursuing further legal action, though he could also choose to run as a write-in candidate. If he does, that means incumbent Republican Scot Turners name will appear on the ballot unopposed.

We are considering our next steps, Amason said. Its unfortunate the court declined us on a procedural standpoint alone.

There was another concern with Amasons ballot bid.

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Libertarian candidates ballot bid thrown out