Court ruling favors Ohio elections chief on liability issue

COLUMBUS (AP) — A federal appeals court says Ohio’s elections chief is not personally liable for enforcing a law that was found to be unconstitutional.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday reversed an earlier ruling that rejected Secretary of State Jon Husted’s argument that he had immunity against such claims.

Three nonprofits had successfully challenged a 2013 law requiring circulators of initiative petitions to be state residents. When U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson struck down the law last year, he also found that Husted was personally liable for damages to one of the nonprofits.

The state attorney general didn’t challenge the ruling throwing out the law but appealed the finding against Husted.