A federal judge ruled that the Justice Department exceeded its legal authority by attempting to collect state voter lists to identify non-U.S. citizens.
Key facts
- •U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan issued the ruling on Friday.
- •The program sought to collect voter registration records to identify suspected non-U.S. citizens.
- •The court found the Justice Department exceeded its legal authority.
- •The ruling blocks the program even in states that chose to cooperate voluntarily.
- •The judge cited violations of federal privacy laws as a basis for the decision.
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ruled on Friday that the Department of Justice cannot continue its nationwide effort to collect voter registration records from states. The program, which aimed to identify suspected non-U.S. citizens, was blocked even for states that had voluntarily agreed to cooperate with the department.
Court ruling details
Judge Sooknanan, presiding in Washington, determined that the Justice Department acted beyond its legal authority in its attempt to compile the database. The court further found that the department's actions were in violation of federal privacy laws.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hill.
