Federal judge rules Ohio early voting cuts unconstitutional

A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Tuesday ruled that the 2014 elimination of the state's early in-person (EIP) voting was unconstitutional and in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Judge Michael Watson stated in his decision:

The elimination of the extra days for EIP voting provided by Golden Week will disproportionately burden African Americans, as expert and anecdotal evidence reflects that African Americans vote EIP, and specifically EIP during Golden Week, at a significantly higher rate than other voters. ... [Additionally,] it may be more difficult for voters with time, resource, transportation, and childcare restraints to make two separate trips to register and vote, and Golden Week allowed individuals to do both at once. ... The elimination of [same-day registration] means that voters must now register and vote at separate times, which increases the "cost of voting," especially for socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

Statistical and anecdotal evidence cited by Watson showed support for the claims that African Americans utilized this procedure greater than other groups, and that the elimination of this inevitably places a disproportionate burden on them to the point of violating constitutional rights and the VRA.

Read more: Federal judge rules Ohio early voting cuts unconstitutional

Dylan Roof: Justice Dept. will seek death penalty

Attorney General Loretta Lynch has released a statement that the Justice Department will be seeking the death penalty in the Dylan Roof case. Roof killed nine people inside a Charleston South Carolina church last year.

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Statement on the Case of Dylann Roof

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch today released the following statement regarding the United States v. Dylann Roof:

“Following the department’s rigorous review process to thoroughly consider all relevant factual and legal issues, I have determined that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty.  The nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm compelled this decision.”

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Office of the Attorney General

Updated May 24, 2016

Elijah Cummings Statement on State of Maryland v. Edward Nero Verdict

May 23, 2016 Press Release

Washington, D.C. (May 23, 2016) — Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement on the verdict in State of Maryland v. Edward Nero:

“Every American has the right to a trial decided by a jury of their peers or a trial decided by a judge. Mr. Edward Nero chose to forgo a jury and exercised his right to have Judge Barry G. Williams decide his case. Today, Judge Williams—after hearing the evidence presented by the prosecution and Mr. Nero’s defense attorneys—issued a not guilty verdict in this trial; I thank him for his service.

“Like many Baltimore residents, I was personally struck by Mr. Freddie Gray’s death, and I know that we will all continue to struggle with the strong emotions it invokes in us.

“Following Mr. Gray’s death, the citizens of Baltimore demanded justice, and it is clear that the wheels of justice are turning. I commend the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for its efforts to pursue justice, and I thank everyone who has worked on Mr. Nero’s trial.

“Justice has always relied on trust in the judicial process, and that is what I call on all of Baltimore’s residents to do because there will be more trials in the death of Mr. Freddie Gray. We cannot control the outcome of any of these trials, but what we can control is our work to continue healing our community.

“With eyes toward the future, we must continue working to reform our criminal justice system—in Maryland and nationwide—and we must continue to invest in our young people. Baltimore is a city on the rise, but the question is: will we all rise together?

“I believe that we are on the road to creating a city that uplifts all of its residents. Today’s verdict should not take us off course, instead, it should remind us of the importance of the road ahead.”

Who is on the Democratic National Committee Platform Drafting Committee

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz announced the appointment of the 15-person Platform Drafting Committee. The Drafting Committee is responsible for developing and managing the process through which the Democratic Party's National Platform is established.

The roster of the drafting committee reflects the party's agreement that Sanders would have five supporters on the committee, compared to six for Hillary Clinton. The remainng four appointments were made by Debbie Wasserman Shultz.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, who has endorsed Clinton, will lead the committee.

Sanders supporter on Committee:

Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison

Cornel West.

Author Bill McKibben

Arab American Institute head James Zogby

Native American activist Deborah Parker.

Clinton supporters on the committee:

Ambassador Wendy Sherman

Center for American Progress head Neera Tanden

Ohio Rep. Alicia Reece

Environmentalist Carol Browner

Illinois Rep. Luis Gutiérrez

Union head Paul Booth.

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz Appointments.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, Committee Chair

California Rep. Barbara Lee

Former Rep. Howard Berman

Philanthropist Bonnie Schaefer

Is NJ Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter planning a run for governor?

While the names of mostly white male Democrats (Fulop, Sweeney, Lesniak, Murphy) have been tossed around during speculation about who will run for Governor of New Jersey in 2017, it seems that there may someone else looking to run. According to NJ.Com that someone might be African American Democrat Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter.

From NJ.Com:

Certainty about whether Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, D-Passaic, will be running for governor dramatically grew today -- though not exactly as she planned it.

At an event in Jersey City this morning where Sumter was scheduled to speak, state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, D-Jersey City, mistakenly introduced the assemblywoman as having already thrown her hat in the ring.

"If you've been watching the news, and you've heard about who's running for governor, you may not have heard her, but she announced that she is running for governor," Cunningham said.

Sumter, who was running late to the event and arrived shortly after Cunningham's introduction, quickly responded to the senator's gaffe with a sense of humor.

"Senator Cunningham just shared with me that she shared the good news prior to my announcement," the 35th District assemblywoman said to laughs from dozens of people in the audience.

Shortly after her remarks at today's event, Sumter declined to confirm with The Jersey Journal that she is running for governor, only going so far as to say the possibility is under "serious consideration."