Coalition for Free and Open Elections, Amicus Curiae
Richard Shepard, Counsel of RecordThe Coalition for Free and Open Elections is the Nation’s largest organization of non-major political parties ("third parties"). Richard Shepard runs a solo practice in Tacoma, Washington. He received his law degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1986. The following is excerpted from the Amicus Curiae Brief for the Respondents as submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court on March 1, 2005.Political parties are an integral part of American governance. The First Amendment guarantees free exercise of political association rights. Free exercise of political association rights by both parties and voters furthers the purposes of…