Cert. Petition Filed in Georgia Voting Rights Act Case Concerning At-Large Elections to the Public Service Commission
I’ll be watching this one.
Category Archives: Voting Rights Act
“Obscure legal theory could weaken voters’ protections from racist laws”
The Guardian:
A federal court has embraced a novel legal theory that seriously threatens one of the last legs of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
At the heart of the dispute is who has the right to bring a… Continue reading
“Judge redraws WA’s legislative map after lawsuit over Latino voters”
Seattle Times:
Washington’s political map is set to change in response to allegations of discrimination against Latino voters, and a result could be Democrats winning more seats in the Legislature.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik approved new boundaries for… Continue reading
“Racial Turnout Gap Has Widened With a Weakened Voting Rights Act, Study Finds”
NYT:
When the Supreme Court knocked down a core part of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. argued that some of the law’s protections against racial discrimination were no longer necessary.
He wrote that… Continue reading
Federal Court Strikes Down Some, Upholds Other, Parts of Arizona Laws Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote in State Elections and for State to Investigate Possible Noncitizen Registration
This is a complex ruling in a long-running case. (Via AZ Law).
From the conclusion of the 109-page opinion:
Non-US Plaintiffs may enforce § 10101 of the Civil Rights Act. Requiring individuals who register to vote using the State… Continue reading
Travis Crum: “Justice Alito Embraces a Retrogression Standard”
The following is a guest post from Travis Crum:
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court denied cert in Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board, an important case about intentional discrimination and what facially neutral policies to… Continue reading
“Civil Rights Groups Secure Victory in LandmarkCase Challenging Racial Discrimination inLouisiana’s State Legislative Maps”
Release:
In a victory for fair maps, a federal court today ruled in favor of Louisiana voters, agreeing that the current state House and Senate district maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
The plaintiffs who challenged the… Continue reading
Full Eighth Circuit, Over 3 Dissenting Judges, Won’t Rehear Case That Would End Most Cases Brought Under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
The court’s decision not to grant rehearing en banc, a concurrence by Judge Stras, and a dissent by Judge Colloton, is here. The original panel decision held that Section 2 of the VRA contains no private right of action, which… Continue reading
“5th Circuit will rehear case that created Louisiana’s only Black supreme court seat”
Louisiana Illuminator:
The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to rehear a decades old voting rights case that established the only majority-Black state supreme court district in Louisiana, according to the court’s docket Monday afternoon.
On Monday, the… Continue reading
“The California Supreme Court Replaces Gingles Prong One”
Jason D’Andrea and Bruce Wessel have posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Fordham Law Voting Rights and Democracy Forum). Here is the abstract:
This Essay analyzes Pico Neighborhood Association v. City of Santa Monica, the California Supreme Court’s first decision… Continue reading
“Your Guide to Four Emerging Threats to the Voting Rights Act”
Bolts:
After years of being whittled away by federal judges, the Voting Rights Act unexpectedly survived an existential threat in 2023 when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld what’s left of the landmark civil rights law while striking down Alabama’s congressional… Continue reading
“Graves to lose U.S. House seat under Louisiana redistricting plan that adds minority seat”
Louisiana Illuminator:
Louisiana lawmakers gave final approval Friday to a congressional redistricting plan that adds a second majority-Black district to the state’s U.S. House lineup, likely at the expense of U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, a Republican from Baton Rouge.
State… Continue reading
“Congressional map with Gov. Jeff Landry’s backing clears Louisiana Senate”
Louisiana Illuminator:
The Louisiana Senate gave its approval Wednesday to a congressional redistricting proposal that increases the number of majority-Black districts to two out of six. Gov. Jeff Landry backs the legislation that faces an end-of-month deadline for approval.
Senate … Continue reading
“Federal judge allows quick runoffs under Georgia voting law”
AJC:
A federal judge upheld Georgia’s shortened four-week runoff period mandated by the state’s 2021 voting law, ruling Friday that there wasn’t evidence to prove discrimination against Black voters.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee’s decision keeps in place quick … Continue reading