Felon voting rights trial is delayed (Florida)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Wed, Jul. 21, 2004



Felon voting rights trial is delayed

The fate of a voting rights lawsuit filed by 613,000 former Florida felons now will be decided by an entire federal appellate court. The ruling means many ex-felons could miss the presidential vote.

BY JAY WEAVER

[e-mail]


A federal appeals court on Tuesday delayed indefinitely a long-awaited Miami trial to decide whether more than 600,000 former felons in Florida could have their voting rights automatically restored.The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta agreed to reconsider an earlier appellate panel's order to hold the trial on Florida's 136-year-old law that bars felons from voting.

The ruling disappointed advocates for ex-felons who say the law is racially discriminatory because blacks comprise a disproportionate number of the former convicts.The decision marked another turning point in the class-action case, which was filed weeks before Florida's divisive 2000 presidential election ended with George W. Bush winning the state -- and the White House -- by only 537 votes over Al Gore.

''This makes it wide open,'' said lawyer Deborah Goldberg of the Brennan Center for Justice, which filed the class-action case. ``We're hoping the entire appellate court . . . lets this case go back to trial.''

BOOST FOR STATE

Gov. Jeb Bush's office and lawyers for the state praised the decision as a big boost for their side.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/9202169.htm
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[Racenut20]

1. Of course it is. U didn't think Jebbie was gonna let it go did you?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Incredible.

[dbt]

3. A new high in lows!

Every time I think a Bush has gone just as low as a person can sink, one of them comes along to lower the curve. They ARE evil, every damn scaly one of them!

:grr:
dbt

[oasis]

4. Bush's note to Blair upon restoring Iraqi soveriengty "Let freedom reign"

:puke:

[mom cat]

5. This is the biggest case of "justice delayed is justice denied" EVER!

:wtf:

[nodictators]

6. More than 600,000 to remain disenfranchised!!!

JebCo has repeatedly blocked these former felons from having their voting rights restored. By law, they have a right to have a restoration of their voting rights.

Anyone have info on the demographics and intended party membership of these 600,000+ potential voters?

[Stephanie]

7. 600,000!

Unbelievable! Jim Crow lives on. I can't believe we're living in the 21st century.