Another perfect example of the Obama admin's unprecedented lawlessness unfolded today.
A little backstory is necessary. For years, Kansas and a few other states have been struggling to enforce proof of citizenship laws for voting. They have been stymied because the federal forms do not require proof of citizenship, and the courts won't allow them to require use of their own state forms in lieu of federal forms.
Except that something crazy recently happened - the new commissioner of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission said "hey, no problem, we can revise the form for your states to include the poof of citizenship requirement." Problem solved. So naturally, left wing groups just filed a lawsuit in federal court to enjoin the EAC's action from going into effect.
Who represents the EAC? It's
supposed to be the Department of Justice. Except the DOJ decided "nah, we're not going to oppose the motion for injunction." Because remember, making it as easy as possible for illegals to vote is of paramount concern in this banana republic.
Enter Judge Richard Leon, who was - let's just say - a bit skeptical of the DOJ's actions....
A federal judge sounded skeptical Monday about a request from voting and civil rights' groups to block a federal official's decision to embrace requirements in three states that new voters submit proof that they're U.S. citizens.
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While the judge said he would not rule until Tuesday on the temporary restraining order requested by the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, and voter registration organization Project Vote, the thrust of his questions to several lawyers hinted that he was inclined against granting the order.
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The court hearing Monday began with some drama as Leon read aloud a letter from one commissioner and Newby noting that the Justice Department declined to defend Newby's action and advised the panel that it does not have authority under federal law to retain its own counsel.
Leon called "unprecedented" the Justice Department's decision to agree to a preliminary injunction blocking a federal official's decision, a stance POLITICO highlighted before Monday's hearing.
"I've never heard of it in all my years as a lawyer," the judge said.
Leon also criticized the government for taking an incomplete position in the case, conceding that a preliminary injunction was appropriate but not addressing issues about what decisions the elections panel must make itself and which the panel's director could make on his or her own.
"This is a very unusual way for the Federal Programs Branch to litigate," the judge said.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/02/voting-rights-citizenship-proof-219642