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9th Circuit puts hold on felon voter ruling … for now

9th Circuit puts hold on felon voter ruling … for now

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to temporarily suspend their ruling that threw out Washington’s longstanding ban on voting by felons. The court granted the request by Secretary of State Sam Reed, Attorney General Rob McKenna and Governor Chris Gregoire to place a hold on the controversial ruling while the state pursues a challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court granted the request Thursday in a three-paragraph order, agreeing to not issue a “mandate” that would have…

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WA asks appeals bench to suspend felon voter ruling

WA asks appeals bench to suspend felon voter ruling

Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed are asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to suspend a ruling that Washington must allow felons to register to vote while still serving their sentence. The hold would maintain the status quo — a ban on voting by felons in prison or on community supervision — while the state attempts to overturn the decision in the U.S. Supreme Court. Jeff Even, deputy solicitor general representing Reed, the governor and…

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9th Circuit throws out Wash. ban on felon voting

9th Circuit throws out Wash. ban on felon voting

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out Washington’s longstanding ban on voting by felons. The surprise 2-1 ruling comes in a case brought in U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington almost 14 years ago by Muhammad Shabazz Farrakhan and three other black inmates, and by a Native American and a Latino inmate.  The inmates said minorities are disproportionately prosecuted and sentenced to prison, and that their automatic disenfranchisement violates the federal Voting Rights Act. The Appeals bench concurred…

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Friday update for R-71 signature courtwatchers

Friday update for R-71 signature courtwatchers

(UPDATE: This blog was updated 10-16-09 at 4:58 p.m.) Although the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has given the green light for releasing Referendum 71 petition sheets under terms of the state’s Public Records Act, it’s not quite that simple. Both state and federal courts are still involved and it will be at least a few more days until we know if the petitions can be released. The Attorney General’s Office, which is representing the Secretary of State, says: 1….

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