N.D. CAL.Court order
Federal judge bars DOJ and DHS from threatening election officials over alleged noncitizen ballots
U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order on October 30 barring the Justice and Homeland Security departments from threatening, intimidating or coercing election officials and workers into setting aside ballots of registered voters the administration alleges are ineligible. She found the agencies likely violated the Voting Rights Act's ban on voter intimidation. The order runs through November 16; the Justice Department appealed it to the Ninth Circuit on October 31, NBC News reported.
Order (CBS News) → · NBC News, CNN
Key points
- While the order is in place, the agencies cannot demand that officials in any state segregate ballots, purge voters or halt ballot processing.CBS NewsCNN
- It also bars threats of criminal prosecution against election workers who process ballots in line with the law.CBS NewsCNN
- Thompson found DOJ and DHS likely violated the Voting Rights Act and exceeded their constitutional authority.CBS News
- The Justice Department must tell the court of pending search warrant applications or subpoenas.CBS News
- Labor unions and other groups representing California election workers brought the suit.CBS News
- The order expires November 16, with a hearing set for November 13; DOJ appealed to the Ninth Circuit on October 31.CBS NewsNBC News
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
CBS News
CNN
NBC News