Constitutional Law

High Court Ponders Reach of Voting Rights Act

In late April, the U.S. Supreme Court will entertain argument in a case that will likely either sustain or greatly weaken the Voting Rights Act. In Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder (NAMUDNO), the justices will center primarily on whether congressional reauthorization of a significant section of the Voting Rights Act was constitutional. Much has already been written about the case and what it portends for civil rights legislation before the high court.

Following a recent panel discussion on NAMUDNO hosted by ACS and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, MALDEF's Nina Perales and Julie Fernandes of the Raben group talked with ACSBlog about the Supreme Court's consideration of the case and the congressional history behind reauthorization of Sec. 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Perales said the 'stakes are high' in the case, but that the legislative record provides strong support that Sec. 5 is still greatly needed to confront tactics aimed at suppressing minority voters. Fernandes said that reauthorization of Sec. 5 represented Congress 'at its best.'

Watch interviews below:

Nina Perales, MALDEF Southwest Regional Counsel:

Julie Fernandes, The Raben Group:

 The interviews are also available as podcasts.

Full post as published by ACS Blog on April 15, 2009 (boomark / email).