Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Issues Statement on Ruling in "NAACP" Voter ID Case [Wisconsin]

Wisconsin Department of Justice ^ | Wednesday, July 18, 2012 | J.B. Van Hollen, Attorney General of Wisconsin

[Hunton Peck]

MADISON — Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the Department of Justice will appeal the decision issued yesterday in NAACP v. Walker, et al., Dane County Case No. 11-CV-5492. Yesterday afternoon, the Honorable David T. Flanagan issued his decision invalidating and permanently enjoining Wisconsin’s Voter ID law.

“My office will be appealing the Dane County Circuit Court’s decision in NAACP v. Walker, et al. Voter identification helps ensure election integrity. It is a measure that protects the right to vote. And similar election integrity reforms have been upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court.

I believe that Wisconsin’s law complies with the state and federal constitutions and should be allowed to govern elections in this state. So long as the injunctions remain in place in NAACP v. Walker, et al., and League of Women Voters v. Walker, et al., that will not occur. An appeal is necessary to vindicate the law, and we look forward to presenting our arguments to the appellate court.”

A copy of Judge Flanagan’s order is available at the following link:

July 17, 2012, Order in NAACP Voter ID case [http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/judgment-Walker-Scott-20120718.pdf]

[Hunton Peck]

Judge Flanagan is a union-owned, partisan hack elected by the government employees in Dane County, home of the main campus of the state university as well as the seat of state government. He signed one of the anti-Walker recall petitions circulated by his wife.

Earlier story: Judge in voter ID case signed Walker recall petition [WI]

[Mechanicos]

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/12/28/revisiting-the-supreme-courts-rebuttal-of-voter-id-detractors/

[Maine Mariner]

Does a county circuit judge have the right to rule on
the constitutionally of a state-wide bill in Wisconsin.
Isn't a county judge's jurisdiction just say Dane County?

[Hunton Peck]

No, it seems the Insane Dane County Circuit has original jurisdiction over challenges to legislation. This was also a problem with the budget reform bill that restricted government employees’ collective bargaining privileges and set off the union hysteria in the first place — another Dane County judge ruled against the law and was later overruled by the state Supreme Court.

Original jurisdiction over these issues should really be with the state Supreme Court, or at least the appellate courts, IMO. But that’s just one of several issues that need to be addressed at some point, along with same-day voter registration and grounds for recall elections.

[Hunton Peck]

Thanks for posting that good backgrounder.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wisconsin J. B. Van Hollen doing his job ping

FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.

[Wisconsinlady]

It’s about time Van hollen got off his butt and did something.