296 A.2d 687 | Conn. Super. Ct. | 1972
The plaintiffs, enrolled members of the Democratic party in the town of Enfield, seek to enjoin the defendants from doing any act relative to the selection of members of the town committee pursuant to rules promulgated by the Democratic party of the town of Enfield.
The defendants have filed a plea in abatement, alleging several grounds, chief of which is the failure of the plaintiffs to exhaust their administrative remedies. The defendants introduced into evidence a copy of the rules of the Democratic party of the state of Connecticut. General Statutes §
Actions against the Democratic state central committee are distinguishable. The instant case has been instituted by enrolled members of the Democratic party of the town of Enfield against officials of the local Democratic party of the town of Enfield *35 relative to the party rules concerning the procedure for the selection of party-endorsed candidates for the office of town committee member.
On October 2, 1971, at a state convention, the Democratic party of the state of Connecticut amended its rules. Articles 6 and 7 provide the basis for rules which bind local parties in the endorsement of candidates for various offices, including that of a town committee member. Pursuant to §
Political parties are voluntary associations for political purposes. They establish their own rules. The rule appears to be that in factional controversies within a political party, where there is no controlling statute or clear legal right involved, the court will not assume jurisdiction but will leave the matter for determination by the proper tribunals of the party itself, or by the electors at the polls.State ex rel. Dawson v. Gleason,
While it is true that the plaintiffs rely on their allegations that §
Because of the failure of the plaintiffs to comply with the provisions of article 4 of the rules of the Democratic party of the state of Connecticut, they have failed to exhaust their administrative remedies.
Accordingly, the plea in abatement is sustained.