Judge blocks Georgia voter ID law !

[garybeck]

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/14992054.htm

ATLANTA - With 11 days to go before Georgia's July 18 primary elections, a judge on Friday issued a restraining order blocking enforcement of the state's voter photo ID law. The state immediately announced plans to appeal the decision to the Georgia Supreme Court.

In a sharply worded ruling, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melvin Westmoreland said Friday that Georgia's voter ID law "unduly burdens the fundamental right to vote rather than regulate it" and would cause "irreparable harm."

Westmoreland went on to write that "where the right of suffrage is fixed in the Constitution it cannot be restricted by the legislature, but only by the people through an amendment to the Constitution."

Westmoreland, who was appointed to the bench by former Democratic Gov. Zell Miller, said that the 17 forms of ID - some with photos and some without - that had been allowed in previous elections can be used at the polls for the upcoming primary. Voters who lack one of those IDs can also continue to attest to their identity under oath.

more:
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/14992054.htm

thankfully there are at least SOME judges out there who give a $%*&$(* about the law.

[autorank]

1. K&R - Just popped in for a minute - what great news. GREAT

Oh so sorry Carter-Baker Commission whose national voter ID was the cover for Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and others foisting this racist requirement on the good people of America. Good for the judge and good for the people for fighting this.

[UrbScotty]

2. A ZELL MILLER appointee?!

Then again, Souter was appointed by Bush Sr.

[Awsi Dooger]

3. Perhaps appointed during Zell's first term

He was somewhat moderate from '91 to '94 then turned the wheel straight right after almost losing the re-election race in '94.

Anyway, this is great news although I'm not expecting anything to go our way in the Georgia Supreme Court, if it's trending the same way as the rest of the state.

[kdpeters]

10. Zell Miller fought hard to remove Confederate Battle emblem from GA flag

I particularly remember one full page editorial in the Atlanta Constitution he wrote explaining why Georgians should reject that flag and it's racist history. It was probably the deciding factor that got me off the fence at the time.

I never really liked him. Too fake; too politicky. I certainly have no compliments for anything he's done lately, but there was a time where he took a brave, principled stand against popular opinion and actually fought for it.

[mod mom]

4. I hope this will have an impact in OHIO! Thanks Gary!

[INdemo]

5. Let's see where this goes as far as the appeal

and it might just set a precedent for the illegal Indiana Voter ID requirement

[rosesaylavee]

6. Is this judge ANY relation to Lynn Westmoreland

congressmen from Georgia who sponsored the ten commandment legislation? Could the Westmoreland gene pool not be completely corrupt?

:woohoo:

[checks-n-balances]

7. This is great news, but this ruling ONLY APPLIES TO THIS PRIMARY

It is only a TEMPORARY restraining order against the law signed by Gov. Purdue. I heard that this morning on a local talk show from Atlanta.

The other part of this news that is good, though, is that this latest development is thanks to former Gov. Roy Barnes, a democrat. He made the fatal mistake of angering public school teachers by using them as scapegoats for political gain. It backfired, as I figured it would, but any teachers who voted against him would be voting against their own best interests, as we could've told them. It helped pave the way for an almost complete GOP state takeover.

The good thing about this temporary ruling, though, is that MAYBE Cathy Cox and Ralph Reed won't win in the primaries. Keeping fingers crossed!

[Melissa G]

8. Great! k-n-r! n/t

[texpatriot2004]

9. Great news. Glad to hear it. nm