wOOt! US district court blocks Texas' photo ID law, Texas AG to appeal

[babylonsister]

http://www.kens5.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/09/voter-id-law/17005019/

US district court blocks Texas' photo ID law, Texas AG to appeal
KENS 5 Staff, KENS5.com 8:22 p.m. CDT October 9, 2014


Texas' strict photo ID law has been blocked a federal judge ruled it violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as the United States constitution.

Federal Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos announced the ruling Thursday.

The Texas Attorney General's office released a statement directly following the ruling that the State of Texas will appeal the decision.

From Lauren Bean, Deputy Communications Director:

"The State of Texas will immediately appeal and will urge the Fifth Circuit to resolve this matter quickly to avoid voter confusion in the upcoming election. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that voter ID laws are constitutional so we are confident the Texas law will be upheld on appeal."

[procon]

1. The judge calls it an “unconstitutional poll tax”

Tell it like it is, judge!



"While Ramos found no “smoking guns” of racist intentions in passing the legislation, she said the state legislature's 2011 session was “racially charged.” She concluded that the sponsors of the measure “were motivated, at the very least in part, because of and not merely in spite of the voter ID law’s detrimental effects on the African-American and Hispanic electorate.”


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/09/texas-voter-id_n_5962674.html

[Gothmog]

2. Greg has wasted a great deal of state money on this lawsuit

[TlalocW]

3. I remember Texas higher-up republican mucky-mucks

Basically saying, "Neener neener neener," at the Justice Department when the Supreme Court knocked down one of the sections of the Voting Rights Act that Texas (and other states) had to submit any changes to their voting procedures. And I think it was Abbott who basically said something along the lines of we can do whatever we want now. Well, uh, no... You just don't have to automatically submit your changes. If you still try to screw over minority voters, things will drop on you from a great height. Did the Justice Department bring the lawsuit or was involved in any way?

TlalocW

[Gothmog]

4. I followed this case very closely

The DOJ did an amazing job in this litigation. The DOJ provided and pay for the key expert witnesses and did a ton of work.

Chad Dunn and the other private attorneys also did an amazing job. This is a great victory but the 5th Cir. is full of crazy people and will try to gut this ruling