Appeals court upholds key voting rights provision

Court Alerts

A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, rejecting an Alabama county's challenge to the landmark civil rights law.

The provision requires state, county and local governments with a history of discrimination to obtain advance approval from the Justice Department, or from a federal court in Washington, for any changes to election procedures. It now applies to all or parts of 16 states.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said that Congress developed extensive evidence of continuing racial discrimination just six years ago and reached a reasonable conclusion when it reauthorized section 5 of the law at that time.

The appellate ruling could clear the way for the case to be appealed to the Supreme Court where Chief Justice John Roberts suggested in a 2009 opinion that the court's conservative majority might be receptive to a challenge to section 5.

Judge David Tatel wrote for the Court of Appeals majority that the court owes deference to Congress' judgment on the matter.

Related listings

  • Top Pa. judge charged with campaign corruption

    Top Pa. judge charged with campaign corruption

    Court Alerts 05/19/2012

    State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin was charged Friday with illegally using her taxpayer-funded staff in her campaigns for a seat on the state's highest court in a scheme that ensnared her sister, a senator awaiting sentencing on similar cha...

  • Lawyer enters not guilty plea for shooting suspect

    Lawyer enters not guilty plea for shooting suspect

    Court Alerts 05/01/2012

    A California man accused of committing the nation's deadliest school shooting rampage since the 2007 attack at Virginia Tech pleaded not guilty Monday to murder charges. One L. Goh, 43, entered his plea through his lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Davi...

  • High court rejects Christian campus groups' appeal

    High court rejects Christian campus groups' appeal

    Court Alerts 03/19/2012

    The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from Christian groups that challenged a discrimination policy at California state universities. The justices on Monday are leaving in place a federal appeals court ruling that found that the policy doesn't ...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read