RN-T.com – Rome plays role in Supreme Court order

The U.S. Supreme Court cited Rome several times in its Tuesday decision to halt enforcement of a key Voting Rights Act provision — an act long considered an essential tool in stopping voting discrimination over the past 50 years.

In a 5-4 ruling, the court declared unconstitutional a provision of the landmark Act that determines which states and localities must get Washington’s approval for proposed election changes.

In both the majority and opposing opinions, justices referenced Rome’s 1980 case. In that case, the high court examined Rome’s election changes that called for majority, instead of plurality, voting. The city also annexed several properties between 1964 and 1975 without getting Department of Justice approval.

Rome failed in its bid before the high court. Attorney Bob Brinson, former city attorney, argued the case before the Supreme Court.

“I’m happy it’s finally been ruled that way,” Brinson said of Tuesday’s decision. “It was based on some old, old data.”

Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens also praised the decision.

“When the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960s, several states and local jurisdictions, including Georgia, discriminated against minority voters,” Olens said in a statement. “Nearly 50 years later, things have changed dramatically.”

via RN-T.com – Rome plays role in Supreme Court order.