Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the Cuomo administration has prevailed in court on the question of who controls the Women's Equality Party. At the same time the appellate court ruling did uphold a lower court’s decision to toss WEP candidates off the ballot on a technicality. On Wed., Oct. 14, the Third Department found the group backed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is the only one of the three with standing as the party's controlling entity. A group of Niagara County Republicans and a group led by former state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk (KAT-chik) challenged for control of the party. A Supreme Court judge in Niagara County last month urged all three groups not to nominate any candidates. Hamilton writes that the appellate decision handed down Wednesday is convoluted and confusing, and in the end the ruling did not make crystal clear who runs the party. However, the Cuomo side is claiming victory. WEP chair Rachel Gold said, “We are thankful the courts rejected these cynical and illegitimate attempts to hijack the Women’s Equality Party and ruled in favor of those who formed it and worked hard to get it ballot status.” DISCLOSURE: Tkaczyk is a WGXC programmer. Read the full story and the full court decision at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.