Federal judge rules Justice Department voter roll requests unconstitutional

US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ruled on October 9 that the Justice Department's push to obtain state voter rolls is unconstitutional, the New York Post reported. The ruling blocks federal efforts to check state voter rolls against an immigration database to force states to remove voters deemed ineligible. [1]

The 78-page decision came in response to a legal challenge brought against the practice of the Justice Department, according to the New York Post. The ruling represents a major legal setback for President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections on November 3. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, federal courts have recently addressed other constitutional challenges involving government database searches. A federal judge in Oklahoma previously ruled that a warrantless search of an artificial intelligence surveillance database by a sheriff deputy violated the Fourth Amendment. [2][3]

The Republican Party is currently fighting to maintain its majorities in both houses of the United States Congress, the New York Post reported. The court decision limits federal attempts to expand control over election administration before the upcoming votes. [1]