Maine's highest court has rejected an appeal by an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate who was denied a spot on the November ballot because she failed to submit enough signatures prior to the deadline.

In a brief opinion Friday, the Supreme Judicial Court found no error in a lower court ruling that upheld the secretary of state's refusal to grant Laurie Dobson an extension of the June 2 deadline.

The law court also affirmed the denial of the Kennebunkport woman's request for a hearing to review the actions of local election officials.

The secretary of state had determined that Dobson fell 160 signatures short of the 4,000 required by law.