United States Supreme Court
JUSTICE SCALIA delivered the opinion of the Court.
The State of New York requires that political parties select their nominees for Supreme Court Justice at a convention of delegates chosen by party members in a primary election. We consider whether this electoral system violates the First Amendment rights of prospective party candidates.
New York State has thrice (in 1846, 1911, and 1921) displayed a willingness to reconsider its method of selectÂing Supreme Court Justices. If it wishes to return to the primary system that it discarded in 1921, it is free to do so; but the First Amendment does not compel that. We reverse the Second Circuit’s contrary judgment.