Federal Judge OK's Politicking in W.Va. Parks

Political parties can seek petition signatures in West Virginia's state parks, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge John P. Bailey found that the Division of Natural Resources violated free speech rights with its policy requiring written permission for such petition drives, The Associated Press reports.

"The Charlottesville, Va.-based Rutherford Institute filed the lawsuit in 2008 on behalf of the Constitution Party of West Virginia," the article said. "Party members wanted to use a National Hunting and Fishing Day event at Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park in Lewis County to collect signatures to put their candidates on West Virginia’s ballot."