On January 28, the 9th circuit stayed its own opinion in Farrakhan v Gregoire, 06-35669. That is the lawsuit over whether the federal Voting Rights Act may be used to strike down state laws that prevent ex-felons and felons from voting. The 9th circuit had ruled that the Voting Rights Act does apply, and that because the evidence shows that the Washington state criminal justice system is racially discriminatory, therefore Washington may not ban felons and any type of ex-felons from voting.

The stay means that the 9th circuit opinion will not be implemented, until or unless the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case and settles it.