Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

brooklynite

(93,873 posts)
Thu Sep 15, 2016, 05:18 PM Sep 2016

Virginia Supreme Court denies Republican effort to hold McAuliffe in contempt over felon voting

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

The Supreme Court of Virginia on Thursday rejected a Republican effort to have Gov. Terry McAuliffe held in contempt over his ongoing efforts to restore voting rights for felons.

In a unanimous one-page order, the Supreme Court said it would not force McAuliffe to return to court to prove that he is complying with the court's July 22 ruling that struck down the governor's first attempt to restore voting rights to more than 200,000 felons via executive order. The court also said it would not allow Republican General Assembly leaders to seek documents from the McAuliffe administration through a new discovery process.

The ruling brings to an end the legal fight that cast uncertainty over thousands of ex-offenders just weeks before early voting gets underway for the presidential election.

In a written statement, McAuliffe said he will "continue to move forward" with the revised process he adopted after the court ruling to grant political rights to would-be voters on an individual basis.

Read more: http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_397c5a9f-5695-521c-a791-fabae3e17812.html

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
3. Republicans try to halt voting, they know if we vote they lose. It is time to step
Thu Sep 15, 2016, 05:25 PM
Sep 2016

Up the voting effort, beating Republicans at every level will bring compassion back to America.

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
5. You beat me to this
Thu Sep 15, 2016, 05:33 PM
Sep 2016

I just self deleted the thread that I started on this topic.

This is a very important issue. Felon disenfranchisement laws are one of the last real holdovers from the Jim Crow days

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
6. The Virginia Supreme Court rejected a petition from Republican leaders on Thursday that sought to ho
Thu Sep 15, 2016, 05:35 PM
Sep 2016

Here is the thinkprogress article on this issue https://thinkprogress.org/breaking-supreme-court-slaps-down-virginia-republicans-attempt-to-block-ex-felons-from-voting-5ab6b4f2b290#.1mbf5oiue

The Virginia Supreme Court rejected a petition from Republican leaders on Thursday that sought to hold Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in contempt for restoring the voting rights of tens of thousands of ex-offenders ahead of the 2016 election.

McAuliffe attempted to automatically restore the rights of all 200,000 former felons in the state with an executive order back in April — bringing the state in line with nearly 40 others across the country that allow people to become full citizens again after serving their sentences.

But the state’s Republican leaders sued, claiming the governor had overstepped his legal authority. A narrow majority on the Virginia Supreme Court agreed, and the registrations of thousands of ex-offenders who had been hoping to vote for the first time in decades were put in jeopardy.

When McAuliffe attempted to get around the court order by signing each clemency petition individually, the Republican legislators sued him for contempt of court. Had the state Supreme Court accepted their arguments, thousands of ex-offenders in the state could have seen their voting rights re-appear and disappear twice in the span of just a few months.
“These folks are back in our society,” McAuliffe said at a forum in DC on Tuesday. “They have already paid their debt to society. A judge and jury have determined that they are done. They are paying taxes and going to church, why do you possibly not want these folks to vote?”

ileus

(15,396 posts)
7. There's something to be said for being in power.
Thu Sep 15, 2016, 06:25 PM
Sep 2016

Did they actually think this would go anywhere....LOL

NBachers

(17,007 posts)
8. I'm a felon; I vote fine. But I live in California. Other states would deny me that right.
Thu Sep 15, 2016, 07:10 PM
Sep 2016

Republicans are aggressive, predatory, and boundless in their evil.

vinny9698

(1,016 posts)
11. In this 2016, I never thought that we would still be fighting the Civil War and the 60s Civil Rights
Mon Sep 19, 2016, 12:27 AM
Sep 2016

Teenage future Trump supporters. Their 50th anniversary is coming up at a local Trump rally. Make America Great Again means to them the right to pour sugar on minorities. A scene from the future movie “The Deplorables”.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Virginia Supreme Court de...