The Department of Justice is facing criticism after suing two Democratic chief election officials for refusing to hand over their states’ voter rolls, even while GOP officials have taken the same stance.

Friday, September 19

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Judge rejects Trump’s ‘tedious and burdensome’ New York Times defamation lawsuit

- A federal judge struck ([link removed] ) down President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, ruling that his complaint’s contents were “improper and impermissible.”

- “A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration,” the judge wrote.

Trump wants to remove U.S. attorney overseeing probe into Letitia James

- Trump said ([link removed] ) he wants Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, removed because two Democrats voted to confirm him in Congress. Siebert is overseeing two high-profile investigations into two Trump’s foes: Letitia James and James Comey.

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- The ACLU is suing the Trump administration for detaining immigrants at the detention center “Alligator Alcatraz.”

- Tell Congress to demand access and shut down “Alligator Alcatraz” and other makeshift facilities now. ([link removed] )

DOJ targets blue states in voter roll lawsuits 'driven by partisanship’

- The Department of Justice is facing ([link removed] ) criticism after suing two Democratic chief election officials for refusing to hand over their states’ voter rolls, even while GOP officials have taken the same stance.

- The lawsuits appear to be ‘driven by partisanship,” and are “very poorly supported,” one election administration expert told Democracy Docket.

The latest in Texas’ redistricting legal battle

- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) filed ([link removed] ) a brief opposing efforts to block Texas’ new congressional map, which would likely add five GOP seats to Congress. They argued the plaintiffs’ request is unconstitutional, citing the Supreme Court’s recent affirmative action ruling, and claimed there’s no proof of discriminatory intent.

- The NRCC claims the map’s creator, a prominent GOP operative, did not use racial data, and argues that Governor Greg Abbott’s (R) comments ahead of the legislature’s special session don’t amount to evidence of racial gerrymandering.

North Dakota urges Supreme Court to reject tribes’ appeal in VRA case

- ​​North Dakota filed ([link removed] ) a brief urging the Supreme Court not to hear Native tribes’ appeal of the 8th Circuit’s ruling that private plaintiffs cannot enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

- The case began when tribes challenged the state’s legislative map for diluting Native voting power; while a district court sided with them, the 8th Circuit reversed. The tribes now seek Supreme Court review, with major implications for who can bring Section 2 lawsuits nationwide.

This is Trump's latest attack on free speech

- Marc explains ([link removed] ) why Trump is escalating his authoritarian crackdown on thought, dissent, media and progressive organizations.

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The ACLU is suing the Trump administration for detaining immigrants. Recently, the government conceded in the ACLU’s federal court case that it would provide detainees with bond hearings, allowing them to go home to their families. While this is an important victory, this fight is far from over. Tell Congress to demand access and shut down Alligator Alcatraz permanently. Take action now. ([link removed] )

AND NOW FOR THIS WEEK’S GOOD NEWS

Appeals court shuts down Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook

- The D.C Circuit Court of Appeals ruled ([link removed] ) that Trump’s effort to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook was unlawful, rejecting his claim that unproven mortgage application issues from before she joined the Fed justified her dismissal. Although Trump has already asked the Supreme Court to intervene, this ruling sets a precedent limiting executive power, defending the central bank’s independence and preserving due process rights.

Utah Supreme Court upholds requirement to redraw GOP gerrymandered map

- Utah’s high court denied ([link removed] ) the GOP-led legislature’s request to keep Utah’s 2021 congressional map in place, ordering lawmakers to produce new maps under the state’s voter-approved Proposition 4. The ruling forces compliance with citizens’ redistricting reforms, gives fairer representation a real chance and blocks the GOP’s attempt to ignore the will of voters.

Federal court rules Trump illegally fired federal probationary workers

- A federal judge from California found ([link removed] ) that the Trump administration — through the Office of Personnel Management — unlawfully directed agencies to dismiss roughly 25,000 probationary federal employees for supposedly poor performance, a reason the judge called false. Federal agencies must now correct personnel files and inform affected workers that their terminations were not performance-based.

Democratic-led lawsuit challenging Trump’s anti-voting order allowed to proceed

- A federal judge denied ([link removed] ) the Trump administration’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by 19 Democratic-led states that challenges key provisions of the March executive order on elections. The decision preserves claims that the order violates the National Voter Registration Act and other laws by imposing documentary proof of citizenship, enforcing strict ballot receipt deadlines and pressuring states on federal election procedures.

Alabama’s largest county must redraw racially discriminatory map

- A federal judge struck down ([link removed] ) Jefferson County, Alabama’s unconstitutional 2021 commission map, finding it violates the 14th Amendment by packing and diluting Black voters into only two of five districts. The ruling bans use of the old map in future elections and gives both sides 30 days to submit a plan for fair, remedial redistricting.

Ninth circuit preserves Arizona’s process for certifying elections

- The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated ([link removed] ) the injunction against Arizona’s Canvass Provision in the 2023 Election Procedures Manual, meaning the secretary of state can now certify statewide results even if certain counties refuse to finalize theirs. This guards against local, rogue officials derailing democracy by refusing to certify results.

Federal judge blocks Trump’s attempt to deport unaccompanied children to Guatemala

- A federal judge stopped ([link removed] ) the Trump administration from deporting to Guatemala migrant children in U.S. shelters who lack a final removal order, rejecting claims that their parents requested their return. The ruling protects vulnerable minors from being sent back without due process and holds that the government’s explanation was factually unsupported.

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