A judge determined Monday that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. improperly claimed New York residency on his nominating petition and therefore not appear on the state’s ballot in November. Why this matters: The verdict, if affirmed pending an appeal, may pave the way for legal challenges to Kennedy’s ballot access in other states. Justice Christina L. Ryba decided Monday that Kennedy falsely provided a New York address when attempting to qualify for the state’s presidential ballot.

Big Picture: Clear Choice Action, a Democratic-aligned PAC, accused Kennedy of falsely claiming New York residency while living in the Los Angeles region. During the weeklong trial, which did not include a jury, Kennedy testified that he had lived in New York for decades and has always intended to return to the state. The Kennedy campaign, which has launched an aggressive push to get on the national ballot, is likely to challenge the decision. “Democracy is about trusting voters to make the best choice for themselves and their families, not weaponizing the courts to restrict voter choice and prevent Americans from supporting the candidate they like best,” Kennedy campaign manager Amaryllis Fox said in a statement.

Big Picture: Clear Choice Action, a Democratic-aligned PAC, accused Kennedy of falsely claiming New York residency while living in Los Angeles. During the week-long trial, which did not feature a jury, Kennedy testified that he had lived in New York for decades and had always planned to return. The Kennedy campaign, which has launched an aggressive effort to get on the national ballot, is expected to contest the decision. “Democracy is about trusting voters to make the best decision for themselves and their families, not using the courts to limit voter choice and prevent Americans from supporting the candidate they prefer,” Kennedy campaign manager Amaryllis Fox said in a statement.