Saturday, October 21, 2006

Ouch! Ninth Circuit receives another upbraiding from the SCOTUS

The Supreme Court of the United States vacated the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling on Arizona's voter ID law.
The SCOTUS found that the Ninth Circuit failed to show deference to the decision of the District Court in upholding the ID law (voters must present identification in order to vote, although persons without ID may fill out a provisional ballot that may be counted if the voter presents an ID within five business days).
The SCOTUS was none too pleased that the Ninth Circuit failed to provide a justification for its ruling against the District Court:
... by failing to provide any factual findings or indeed any reasoning of its own the Court of Appeals left this Court in the position of evaluating the Court of Appeals' bare order in light of the District Court's ultimate findings. There has been no explanation given by the Court of Appeals showing the ruling and findings of the District Court to be incorrect.
(SCOTUS opinion, see page 5)

Sounds like a good law.
The SCOTUS also noted that allowing the law to stand will allow the effects to be evaluated in terms of outcome rather than in terms of speculation.

Hat tip to the Belmont Club.

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