Janis v. Nelson
Summary
On December 30, 2009 the U.S. District Court for the Western District of South Dakota ruled that voting changes in Shannon County, South Dakota must be pre-cleared with the federal government in compliance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The court also ruled that a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two American Indian women who attempted to vote but were improperly removed from the voter rolls due to felony convictions can go forward. Because state law only disfranchises individuals sentenced to prison and both women were just sentenced to probation, election officials unlawfully took away their voting rights.
Legal Documents
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12/30/2009
Janis v. Nelson - Order
Date Filed: 12/30/2009
Affiliate: South Dakota
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10/07/2009
Janis v. Nelson - First Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 10/07/2009
Affiliate: South Dakota
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05/25/2010
Janis v. Nelson - Settlement Agreement
Date Filed: 05/25/2010
Affiliate: South Dakota
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02/18/2009
Janis v. Nelson - Request for Appointment of a Three-Judge Court
Date Filed: 02/18/2009
Affiliate: South Dakota
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02/18/2009
Janis v. Nelson - Complaint
Date Filed: 02/18/2009
Affiliate: South Dakota
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02/08/2010
Janis v. Nelson - Second Amended Complaint Pending Court Approval Requesting Class Action Status
Date Filed: 02/08/2010
Affiliate: South Dakota
Press Releases
South Dakota Agrees To Reinstate American Indian Voters Unlawfully Removed From Rolls
ACLU Challenges Illegal Disfranchisement Of American Indian Voters In South Dakota