Washington: The rights of parties vs. the rights of the voters

From yesterday's New York Times:
Washington: Ruling on Primary System
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 23, 2006
A federal appellate court refused to reinstate the state’s primary system, in which the top two vote-getters for each office advanced to the general election, regardless of political affiliation. A three-judge panel said the system infringed on the rights of political parties to choose their own nominees. Judge Thomas Zilly of Federal District Court ruled the system unconstitutional last summer before it was ever used.