Courts & Law

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The state of Pennsylvania stipulated to the facts that it has no evidence of voter impersonation at the polls and that it does not expect any voter impersonation at the polls this November. Dozens of witnesses testified how they do not have state issued photo ID and Pennsylvania makes it difficult and expensive for them to obtain photo ID (a violation of the 24th Amendment prohibiting poll taxes), which will disenfranchise them of their fundamental constitutional right to vote for no other reason than they do not possess a photo ID. A no brainer, right? Or so every rational human being thought.

A Republican Pennsylvania state court judge today disregarded the overwhelming weight of the evidence and disregarded fundamental constitutional rights by ruling in favor of Pennsylvania Tea-Publican's Jim Crow voter suppression law. Judge won't halt Pa. voter identification law:

A tough new voter identification law championed by Republicans can take effect in Pennsylvania for November's presidential election, a judge ruled Wednesday, despite a torrent of criticism that it will suppress votes among President Barack Obama's supporters and make it harder for the elderly, disabled, poor and young adults to vote.

Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson said he would not grant an injunction that would have halted the law, which requires each voter to show a valid photo ID. Opponents are expected to file an appeal within a day or two to the state Supreme Court as the Nov. 6 election looms.

"We're not done, it's not over," said Witold J. Walczak, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who helped argue the case for the plaintiffs. "It's why they make appeals courts."

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

A follow-up to an earlier post, AIRC Update: Tea-Publican deadbeats sue the AIRC with your tax dollars to overturn Prop. 106 that created the AIRC:

The Tea-Publican controlled legislature is suing the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC), arguing that the voter approved Proposition 106 (2000) to the state constitution that created the AIRC violates the U.S. Constitution. And even though only Tea-Publicans argue this for their partisan political advantage, they are using your tax dollars to overturn the will of the voters.

The parties are now filing their pleadings. Howard Fischer reports, in only the way he can, Arizona redistricting commission argues state legislators shouldn't draw Congressional lines – East Valley Tribune: 

Members of the Independent Redistricting Commission want a federal judge to rule that state lawmakers are wrong in saying only they get to draw lines for congressional districts.

In legal papers filed in U.S. District Court, attorneys for the commission acknowledge that the U.S. Constitution does say that the manner of selecting members of Congress "shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature.'' And it was the commission created the maps used last decade and again last year for the coming decade.

The lawyers, however, told Judge Paul Rosenblatt that process is legal.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Arizona Secretary of State Ken "Birther" Bennett continues to have a really bad summer. His attempt to prevent the Quality Education and Jobs initiative from appearing on the ballot through his own filing requirement that is not part of any statutory law was rejected by the Arizona Supreme Court. Arizona sales-tax hike can … Read more