Judge Threatens to Halt Democratic Debate Over Kucinich Exclusion

NBC News says it will appeal a Las Vegas judge’s ruling requiring Dennis Kucinich to appear in a Democratic debate this evening.

Judge Charles Thompson has vowed to issue an injunction blocking the debate if the network doesn’t allow Kucinich to participate, the Associated Press reports. The network wants to feature only the top three candidates from the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.

Kucinich’s lawsuit claims NBC broke a contract with him, first inviting him to participate in the debate then rescinding the offer, the Las Vegas Review Journal reports. Thompson is an alternate judge who took the place of Elizabeth Halverson, who is facing ethics charges.