The Supreme Court Tuesday struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act, ruling unconstitutional a provision of the landmark civil rights legislation used to promote the political power of minority voters across large swaths of the southern United States for nearly four decades.
In a 5-4 ruling that split the court along ideological lines, the court ended a requirement that some or all areas in 15 states get advance approval from the Justice Department or a panel of federal judges for all changes to voting laws, procedures and even polling place locations.
The court’s conservative majority said that when Congress reauthorized the law in 2006 it did not have sufficient basis to re-adopt a formula that is essentially the same as the one used when the law was first passed in 1965.
”Congress — if it is to divide the States — must identify those jurisdictions to be singled out on a basis that makes sense in light of current conditions. It cannot rely simply on the past,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. “Our country has changed, and while any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions.”
One thing I noticed is that part of the rationale for invalidating the law was that the data used to justify the law was 40 years old and not relevant. Could that also be used to overturn firearms laws that we know are based on bad assumptions? All gun laws have at the start some boilerplate about how evil guns are and how we will be safer if only ‘x’ is illegal. We all know that is bullshit, can it actually be used to overturn a law??
The second thing I think is interesting is that there was a headline on CNN to the effect ‘Civil Rights Law Gutted’. Isn’t as true, perhaps even more relevant that society has become much more fair and equitable for minorities so that we don’t need the law as it is written.
This case I guess doesn’t bode well for the Texas case if it makes it way back.
Here is a good article about what happened and what it means. Its sums it up better then i could ever have. But i’ll give it a try anyways.
Basically they(congress) felt the law at the time was needed because of the major problem of segregation and racism in the south. And the court(current one) decided that such extreme measures where needed then to mend the issue. Today though it isn’t an issue anymore so its time to restore constitutionally given states rights back.
I could sorta see this issue popping up again in the future as minorities become a large portion of the voting populus. And conservative lawmakers push back. But only time will tell.
NEVER thought they’d have the balls to do it, even tho it is the right thing to do.
Now, lets see tomorrow’s GAY rulings if they have to courage to let voters decide important State issues or not.