State court puts voter ID trial on hold in light of federal rulings
The challenge to North Carolina's voter ID law in state court has been put on hold in light of federal rulings that struck down the law. The state trial could restart if the U.S. Supreme Court restores the state photo ID requirement.
Posted — UpdatedAfter a status hearing with lawyers for the state and plaintiffs lawyers from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Superior Court Judge Michael Morgan ruled that a state trial on voter ID issues would not move forward unless the Supreme Court acts to reinstate the requirement.
"We all agree that it doesn't serve the public to go to trial over a law that can't be enforced," Anita Earls, a lawyer with the SCSJ, told the court Tuesday.
While the federal case covered a number of issues, the state case contested only whether the voter ID requirement was legal under the state constitution. Since the federal courts have enjoined the law, Morgan ruled, there's no reason to proceed with the state case.
However, the court will retain jurisdiction over the case and could restart the state trial if the federal court order is reversed.
A formal order in the case is expected later this week.
In the mean time, lawyers for the state have appealed certain aspects of the case to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and asked the North Carolina Supreme Court to step in. A state Court of Appeals hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 22, according to lawyers in the case.
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