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Voter ID District Court: Voter ID Unlikely for 2012
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/voter-id/district-court-voter-id-life-support/The U.S. Department of Justice — which Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office is suing after it declined to approve the measure — is accusing the state of stalling the delivery of key data the federal government says is necessary for the trial.
Late last month, DOJ asked the district court in Washington, D.C., that will hear the case to postpone the trial. It is scheduled to start July 9. In an order issued today, the court said that Texas has not acted with a sense of urgency.
“Rather than engaging in expedited discovery consistent with its stated goal, Texas has taken steps that can only be interpreted as having the aim of delaying Defendants’ ability to receive and analyze data and documents in a timely fashion,” the court stated. “Texas has repeatedly ignored or violated directives and orders of this Court that were designed to expedite discovery, and Texas has failed to produce in a timely manner key documents that Defendants need to prepare their defense.”
Calls to Abbott's office this evening were not immediately returned.
***
“The Court is getting tired of the State’s games on voter ID. The State of Texas continues to drag its feet and hide information on the effects of their voter suppression legislation,” said Democratic Party spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña.
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Calls to Abbott's office this evening were not immediately returned.
is that a euphimism for they wouldn't return our calls? Or did they return the calls after a while.
Just say they fuckin' wouldn't return our calls!!!
also, it sounds as if Abbott is not "dragging his feet" but has them firmly planted in his own horse shit position and does not intend to comply. If they have not complied by Wednesday the court should give then 3 more days to explain to the court why the case should not be dismissed outright - not that they deserve that!
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As it should be. Hopefully this voter suppression law will never take effect in Texas.
[link:http://txredistricting.org/post/22615961644/court-not-happy-with-texas-in-voter-id-case-says-it|Texas Redistricting Blog 5/7/12
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Court not happy with Texas in voter ID case; says it will give State one last chance for July trial
In a harshly worded order issued this afternoon, the court in the Texas voter ID case reprimanded the state for what it said were “well-documented” discovery violations “that can only be interpreted as having the aim of delaying the Defendants’ ability to receive and analyze data and documents in a timely fashion.”
The court said:
The court told Texas that “based on the record to date, this Court would be well within its discretion to continue the July 9 trial date, to impose monetary sanctions against Texas, or to keep the July 9 trial date and impose evidentiary sanctions such as an adverse inference upon Texas.”
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Court not happy with Texas in voter ID case; says it will give State one last chance for July trial
In a harshly worded order issued this afternoon, the court in the Texas voter ID case reprimanded the state for what it said were “well-documented” discovery violations “that can only be interpreted as having the aim of delaying the Defendants’ ability to receive and analyze data and documents in a timely fashion.”
The court said:
Texas has repeated ignored or violated directives and orders of this Court that were designed to expedite discovery, and Texas has failed to produce in a timely manner key documents that Defendants need to prepare their defense. Most troubling is Texas’ conduct with respect to producing its key state databases, which are central to Defendants’ claim that S.B. 14 has a disparate and retrogressive impact on racial and/or language minority groups. The record reflects that these databases are voluminous, complex, and essential to the preparation of the opinions of Defendants’ expert witnesses. Yet, according to Texas, the full production of such databases to the United States was only complete on May 4, 2012 - 35 days after they were initially due. The production to Defendant-Intervenors is still not complete.
The court told Texas that “based on the record to date, this Court would be well within its discretion to continue the July 9 trial date, to impose monetary sanctions against Texas, or to keep the July 9 trial date and impose evidentiary sanctions such as an adverse inference upon Texas.”
AAS 5/8/12
Texas AG responds to D.C. court’s claims that the state is slowing Voter ID case
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office responded today with an emphatic denial to a charge by a federal court in Washington, D.C. that criticized Texas of foot-dragging in the ongoing voter identification case.
The court, which will determine the legality of Texas’ 2011 voter ID law, said in an order late Monday that it has been flexible and accommodating to the parties in the case in order to have a trial on July 9 and potentially have the law go into effect by the November election.
But the court added that Texas didn’t return the favor.
The court said in an order that it has made itself promptly available on numerous occasions to hear and resolve any disputes that would have delayed the process.
“Unfortunately, Texas has failed to act with the same diligence and sense of urgency,” the court said.
The court said that the most troubling aspect of the delay has been “Texas’ conduct with respect to producing its key state databases,” which are central to the Justice Department’s claim that the voter ID bill — Senate Bill 14 by state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay — could disproportionally reduce minorities’ ability to cast ballots.
Texas AG responds to D.C. court’s claims that the state is slowing Voter ID case
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office responded today with an emphatic denial to a charge by a federal court in Washington, D.C. that criticized Texas of foot-dragging in the ongoing voter identification case.
The court, which will determine the legality of Texas’ 2011 voter ID law, said in an order late Monday that it has been flexible and accommodating to the parties in the case in order to have a trial on July 9 and potentially have the law go into effect by the November election.
But the court added that Texas didn’t return the favor.
The court said in an order that it has made itself promptly available on numerous occasions to hear and resolve any disputes that would have delayed the process.
“Unfortunately, Texas has failed to act with the same diligence and sense of urgency,” the court said.
The court said that the most troubling aspect of the delay has been “Texas’ conduct with respect to producing its key state databases,” which are central to the Justice Department’s claim that the voter ID bill — Senate Bill 14 by state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay — could disproportionally reduce minorities’ ability to cast ballots.
Oh put your big boy pants on Abbott and deal with it; you little coward. This is the big league of courts, not the totally republican Texas controlled courts you're used to dealing with.
I can see little Greg standing in front of the judge in his knickers and beanie cap:
"My dog ate my homework."
And the whole time acting like a pouty child who just thinks he's privileged.
Starting with Perry. They're all getting a bit too big for their britches.
