Judge Blocks DOJ From Threatening Election Workers Over Voting Claims
A federal judge in California on Friday ordered the Justice Department to stop threatening election officials with prosecution. The order also bars demands to purge voters or segregate ballots.
20,000 registered California voters were flagged by federal officials as likely noncitizens.
Nov. 16 is when the temporary restraining order expires.
Thompson ruled without first hearing from the administration.
SEIU, AFSCME, LULAC and the NAACP brought the lawsuit Thursday.
Why it matters: Thompson found federal officials likely violated the Voting Rights Act's ban on intimidating election workers. She also found they likely exceeded constitutional limits on federal authority.
DOJ must tell officials who got warning letters that its threats are blocked.
DOJ must disclose pending search warrants or subpoenas tied to its voter lists.
Judge Blocks DOJ From Threatening Election Workers Over Voting ClaimsYou are hereLatest
How 17 sources split on this story
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Coverage by lean% of 17 sources
17 sources · 17 articles · 53% Left coverage
Where they split: The dispute is whether federal warnings to election workers are lawful notice of legal consequences or unlawful intimidation of people administering an election.
Center coverage, 5 sources: The center frames it as a broad court limit on DOJ tactics, part of a week of rulings against the administration's noncitizen voting push.
Left coverage, 9 sources: The left frames the order as a check on a federal campaign the judge found likely intimidated election workers and could disenfranchise lawful voters.
Right coverage, 3 sources: The right frames it as an overreach by a Biden-appointed judge who acted without hearing from DOJ and limited routine law enforcement warnings.
