Walsh v. Katz
This case addresses a constitutional challenge to a residency requirement for a town justice/town board member position on Fishers Island, Town of Southold, Suffolk County. Petitioners, Fishers Island residents Arthur J. Walsh and Nina J. Schmid, objected to respondent Daniel C. Ross's candidacy because he did not meet the specific residency criteria. The Appellate Division upheld the statute's constitutionality, applying a rational basis test. Ross appealed, advocating for a strict scrutiny standard and arguing that the residency requirement violated equal protection by diluting voter influence. The court affirmed the Appellate Division's decision, concluding that the rational basis test was appropriate given the indirect impact on voting rights, and found a rational basis in ensuring meaningful representation for the geographically unique Fishers Island community.