On May 18, the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia upheld section five of the national Voting Rights Act. Section five is the part of the act that requires certain states and counties to get permission from the U.S. Justice Department before changing any election law. The vote was 2-1. Here is the decision. The decision was written by Judge David Tatel, a Clinton appointee, and co-signed by Judge Thomas Griffith, a Bush Jr. appointee. The dissent is by Judge Stephen Williams, a Reagan appointee. The case is Shelby County, Alabama v Holder, 11-5256.

The same panel also issued an opinion in LaRoque v Holder, 11-5349. That opinion is unanimous. That is also a challenge to the Voting Rights Act, brought by voters in Kinston, North Carolina, who were dissatisfied that the Voting Rights Section of the U.S. Justice Department had refused to let Kinston change from partisan city elections to non-partisan city elections. After this lawsuit was filed, the Voting Rights Section changed its mind and let Kinston make that change. The ruling in this case says that it is now moot. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.