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BREAKING: Veasey Plaintiffs Clear Abbott Logjam 
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Breaking News
 

Supreme Court Order on Texas Voter ID Law Clears Procedural Logjam Constructed by Governor Abbott

The U.S. Supreme Court has just ruled on a petition filed by the Veasey plaintiffs in the Texas voter ID case, which asked the Supreme Court to block enforcement of the Texas law for the 2016 General Election in November. 
 
While the Supreme Court denied the petition to block enforcement for now, the Court has given the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals until July 20th to rule on the substance of the case. If the Appeals Court does not act by that date, the Supreme Court will consider a new petition to block enforcement of the law. 
 
The order can be read here. The key excerpt reads:
"If, on or before July 20, 2016, the Court of Appeals has neither issued an opinion on the merits of the case nor issued an order vacating or modifying the current stay order, an aggrieved party may seek interim relief from this Court by filing an appropriate application. An aggrieved party may also seek interim relief if any change in circumstances before that date supports further arguments respecting the stay order."
Despite the denial of the petition to immediately block the Texas voter ID law, the Supreme Court’s order signals significant concern within the Court over the discriminatory Texas law. Clearly, the aggressive move by the Veasey plaintiffs to file their petition has undermined the strategy of Texas Republican leaders to obstruct and delay a final ruling on the case. 
 

Statement by Lone Star Project Director Matt Angle

"For years now, Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders have been playing a stall game. Rather than settle the case and remove the discriminatory provisions, they have spent millions in taxpayer dollars to stop qualified Texans from casting ballots.
 
"The hostility that Governor Abbott and other Texas leaders hold against Hispanics, African Americans, the very young and very old in Texas is defined by their relentless drive to enforce a discriminatory voter ID law.
 
"Congratulations to Congressman Marc Veasey and other lead plaintiffs for acting smartly and aggressively to make the wheels of justice start turning again."
 

Further Background:

The Texas voter ID law has been ruled discriminatory by three previous federal courts. Yet, Texas Republican leaders have continued to appeal the case and demand its enforcement despite previous rulings that it discriminates against hundreds of thousands of eligible Texas voters. The case is currently pending before the full 5th Circuit Court of Appeals awaiting a formal hearing on May 24th. The Supreme Court’s ruling today should force an Appeals Court decision by July 20th, which will likely be immediately appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court by the losing side.
April 29, 2016
Contact: Matt Angle
972-885-9440
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