Posted on 04/01/2022 10:48:47 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A federal judge on Thursday struck down key provisions of a 2021 Florida election law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and, in a remarkable move, ruled the state must get court approval for the next 10 years before it enacts further changes in three areas.
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, in a blistering 288-page decision, said the law placed restrictions on voters that were unconstitutional and discriminated against minority citizens. Those included limits on drop boxes used for mail-in voting, on giving items to voters waiting in line and new requirements placed on voter registration groups.
The ruling comes less than six months before the state’s first major election since the new law was passed, with primaries scheduled for Aug. 23. It also comes amid a wave of restrictions put in place by Republicans in other states like Texas following the 2020 election.
Walker, who was appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama, framed Florida’s law as another in a long line of changes that were aimed at Democrats but wound up placing an illegal burden on minorities.
“At some point, when the Florida Legislature passes law after law disproportionately burdening Black voters, this court can no longer accept that the effect is incidental,” Walker wrote. “Based on the indisputable pattern set out above, this court finds that, in the past 20 years, Florida has repeatedly sought to make voting tougher for Black voters because of their propensity to favor Democratic candidates. In summation, Florida has a horrendous history of racial discrimination in voting.”
DeSantis, who is running for reelection this year, vowed to quickly appeal the ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, where a majority of judges were appointed by GOP presidents.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
The judge mentions " laws regarding voter registration organizations, drop boxes ". When have drop boxes been part of the Forida "‘horrendous history’ of racism"
Soon to be overturned on appeal, like most of Judge Obama Walker’s rulings.
“DeSantis, who is running for reelection this year, vowed to quickly appeal the ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals”
When the left can’t get their way, they can always rely on the courts.
A black man was elected president without lockboxes
Sounds like the Judge is a ‘Rat activist and Trump H8er
Obama appointed Judge. No more needs to be said.
This decision isn’t going to stand.
Mark Walker is a putz. Always will be.
And the race card.
Was this decision written by a mad toddler?
The enemy has been, and still very much is inside the Gates.
What exactly is the racist bias on the legislation?
The judge mentions “ laws regarding voter registration organizations, drop boxes “. When have drop boxes been part of the Forida “‘horrendous history’ of racism”>>> Started in 1865 according to the judge. And the racism (my summary also in another thread) is that blacks and hispanics are more poor than whites. Have to reprint voter information for blacks and latinos, etc. They used mail in balloting more than whites. They used the drop boxes more than whites. any changes that affects how blacks and latinos vote disproportionality burdens latino and black voters and is therefore unconstitutional.
Check the bank records of Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker!
The Kenyanesian Usurpation was a fatal error.
Obama judge
This judge is insane.
A Constitutionally ineligible half black man was sworn in in direct violation of that Constitution.
That is what led to the clown world we live in.
All of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies completely corrupted.
Stolen elections.
All of it.
Mark Eaton Walker is the chief judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He joined the court in 2012 after being nominated by President Barack Obama. Walker became chief judge in 2018.
Early life and education
A native of Winter Garden, Florida, Walker earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1989 and his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1992.[1]
Professional career
* 2012 - Present: Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
* 2018 - Present: Chief judge
* 2008-2012: Judge, Florida Second Circuit Court
* 1999-2008: Private practice, Tallahassee, Fla.
* 1997-1999: Assistant public defender, Florida Second Judicial Circuit
* 1996, 1997: Private practice, Tallahassee, Fla.
* 1996-1997: Law clerk, Hon. Robert Hinkle, United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
* 1994-1996: Law clerk, Hon. Stephen H. Grimes, Florida Supreme Court
* 1993-1994: Law clerk, Hon. Emmett Cox, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit[1]
Noteworthy cases
Walker bars enforcement of Florida rule prohibiting early voting on college campuses
On July 24, 2018, Walker issued an order barring enforcement of a Florida rule, established by the secretary of state in 2014, prohibiting the use of college campus sites as early voting locations. Walker wrote the following in his order: "Simply put, Defendant's Opinion [i.e., Florida's rule barring early voting on college campuses] reveals a stark pattern of discrimination. It is unexplainable on grounds other than age because it bears so heavily on younger voters than all other voters. Defendant's stated interests for the Opinion (following state law, avoiding parking issues, and minimizing on-campus disruption) reek of pretext. While the Opinion does not identify college students by name, its target population is unambiguous and its effects are lopsided. The Opinion is intentionally and facially discriminatory." Walker barred the secretary of state from enforcing the 2014 rule, though he did not order election officials to designate early voting sites on college campuses, leaving such action to the discretion of local officials.[4]
Patricia Brigham, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, which was a plaintiff to the suit, praised Walker's decision: "This is truly a victory for the citizens of Florida, especially with so many young people motivated to vote. This is the right decision, at the right time, for our democratic process." In a statement, a spokesman for Governor Rick Scott (R) said, "Governor Scott is proud to have signed the largest expansion of early voting in the state's history. We will review this ruling." Scott's office did not indicate whether the state would appeal Walker's decision.[5]
Judge orders new voting restoration process for former felons
On March 27, 2017, Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for Northern Florida ordered the state to develop a new method for deciding how ex-felons regain the right to vote. He gave the state until April 26, 2018, to come up with a new method. He said the new method needs “specific and neutral criteria to direct vote-restoration decisions” and “meaningful, specific and expeditious time constraints.”[6]
In November 2018, voters in Florida decided Amendment 4, the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative. You can read more here: Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018).
Judge dismisses part of lawsuit challenging Florida’s teacher evaluation law (2014)
The Florida Education Association filed a lawsuit challenging a portion of the state’s teacher evaluation law that required teachers to be measured against student performance. The association claimed that some teachers could be judged based on students that the teachers did not instruct personally. Judge Walker dismissed that portion of the suit, but noted that the system had the potential to affect a teacher’s income and reputation in the community. He stated that some Florida newspapers print the teacher evaluations, for example. He also indicated that, while the plaintiffs had pointed out troubling flaws with the evaluation system, the Florida legislature had a legitimate interest in teacher evaluations. Walker held that the system created by the legislature was rationally related to this end and upheld the constitutionality of the law.
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