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New Jersey Supreme Court Won't Hear Carl Lewis Senate Case

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey's Supreme Court said it won't weigh in on whether former Olympic star Carl Lewis is eligible to run for the state Senate.

The court denied certification for the case Friday, saying the key constitutional issue is already being litigated in federal court.

Lewis is running as a Democrat in southern New Jersey's Republican-dominated 8th Legislative District.

New Jersey's secretary of state, a Republican who is also the lieutenant governor, ruled last week that Lewis doesn't meet a four-year residency requirement.

A series of court rulings have upheld that decision. But a federal appeals panel ruled Thursday that Lewis can be allowed on the ballot for the June 7 primary. A federal judge could still remove him from the general election ballot.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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