The U.S. Constitution, 24th amendment, prohibits poll taxes in federal elections. On May 27, the 9th circuit ruled that the 24th amendment does not prohibit states from conditioning restoration of voting rights (for ex-felons) on their having paid all their criminal fines and orders to pay restitution. Harvey v Brewer, 08-17253. The vote was 3-0.
Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was on the 9th circuit panel, and she wrote the decision, which is 23 pages. The part about the fines and restitution is in the last third of the opinion. The first two-thirds of the opinion concerns another issue. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
I must be denser than I realized. Sandra Day O’Conner is now on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals? When did that happen?
Retired U.S. Supreme Court justices sometimes sit on panels of various U.S. Courts of Appeals. Byron White would do that in his home turf, Colorado, 10th circuit. As far as I know, though, Sandra Day O’Connor has only served in the U.S. Court of Appeals that one week in the 9th circuit late last year.
I am sure you are correct Richard, but it seems pretty strange to me that a retired Supreme should be allowed to sit on a court when s/he wasn’t confirmed by the Senate to do so. Then again, the injustice system has always confused me.
US Courts of Appeals also frequently invite a US District Court Judge to sit as one of the 3 judges on a typical panel. Sometimes the US District Court judge is from a state that is not even inside that particular circuit. There probably are federal laws about this.
All federal courts are forever short of having enough judges.
There happen to be mere U.S.A. laws on the subject.
See Title 28 U.S. Code — not that the Constitution and mere laws and treaties mean ANYthing any more — due to the nonstop ability of the party hack Supremes to subvert the entire English language and all political – legal history for the last zillion years.
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Can you give us an example of “unsubverted entire English language?”
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Not even one?