Trump-Appointed Judge Refuses To Block 'Vigilante Groups' From Poll Watching In Arizona

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A federal judge in Arizona has rejected a request for both a restraining order and preliminary injunction against a far-right group that has been accused of gathering near ballot boxes and watching voters, ABC News reports. U.S. District Judge Michail T Liburdi, appointed by former President Trump, claims he cannot issue a preliminary injunction against Clean Elections USA without violating First Amendment protections. This, even as an instance of voter intimidation has been referred to the DOJ from Arizona’s U.S. Attorney’s office.

Nonprofit advocacy groups Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino filed a lawsuit on Monday against ten individuals, including Clean Elections USA and the group’s founder, Melody Jennings — for carrying out surveillance in a “coordinated vigilante intimidation campaign” at ballot drop box locations, “with the express purpose of deterring voters.” Jennings has also been tied to a shady right-wing group named “Ben Sent Us,” who have been sending creepy emails to Democratic figures in the state.

The lawsuit claimed that the right-winged group violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. If the preliminary injunction were granted, it would have “prohibited defendants from gathering within sight of drop boxes,” from filming, following, or photographing potential voters, and from “training, organizing, or directing others to do those activities.”

In Arizona, you can film and take pictures as long as you are more than 75 feet away. Judge Liburdi wrote in his opinion that he believes granting the injunction and restraining order would directly conflict with the First Amendment right to assemble.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/trump-appointed-judge-refuses-block-152000211.html

[emulatorloo]

1. See " DOJ: Risk of Arizona voter intimidation 'significant' with ballot drop box monitoring"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/doj-risk-arizona-voter-intimidation-154732450.html

DOJ: Risk of Arizona voter intimidation 'significant' with ballot drop box monitoring
Ella Lee, USA TODAY
Tue, November 1, 2022, 11:19 AM·2 min read

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department on Monday indicated support of an Arizona lawsuit accusing groups monitoring ballot drop boxes of illegal voter intimidation.

"When private citizens form 'ballot security forces' and attempt to take over the State’s legitimate role of overseeing and policing elections, the risk of voter intimidation—and violating federal law—is significant," the Justice Department wrote in a "statement of interest" in the case.

The DOJ described filming or harassing voters as examples of “vigilante ballot security measures,” suggesting those behaviors violate the federal Voting Rights Act.


More at link.

[2naSalit]

2. Perhaps...

Some "vigilantes" could sit outside his house until the election is decided so he can see why it sucks.

[Zeitghost]

3. The ruling is frustrating

But correct.

The legislature needs to pass stricter laws if we want change. If the law says 75', it's not up to a judge to extend that. People have a right to gather and take photos in public and as long as they are not breaking other laws, the court's hands are tied.