Gruver v. Barton
What's at Stake
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new state law that creates wealth-based hurdles to voting and undermines Floridians’ overwhelming support for Amendment 4.
Summary
Floridians voted last fall to amend their state constitution to restore voting rights to people convicted of most felonies once they’ve completed their sentences. It was the single largest expansion of voting rights in the United States since the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in 1971.
In response, the Legislature passed a bill to limit the amendment’s reach. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill, prompting immediate legal action by the groups. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of 10 individuals, the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, the Orange County Branch of the NAACP, and the League of Women Voters of Florida.
The ACLU’s Voting Rights Project and ACLU’s Racial Justice Program are challenging the law.
Legal Documents
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10/18/2019
ORDER
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09/11/2020
ORDER - 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
Date Filed: 09/11/2020
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08/03/2020
Appeals Court Brief - Florida voting
Date Filed: 08/03/2020
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08/02/2019
Gruver v Barton - PI Motion
Date Filed: 08/02/2019
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08/02/2019
Gruver v Barton - Expert Report of Daniel A. Smith
Date Filed: 08/02/2019
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06/29/2019
COMPLAINT - Gruver v. Barton
Date Filed: 06/29/2019
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05/24/2020
Opinion - Florida
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02/19/2020
Gruver v Barton - 11th Circuit Opinion
Date Filed: 02/19/2020
Press Releases
Federal Appeals Court Affirms Wealth-Based Barriers to Voting
Federal Appeals Court Hearing Concludes in Challenge to Florida Law Obstructing Voting Rights Restoration in Florida
Groups Urge Federal Appeals Court to Affirm Wealth-Based Barriers to Voting are Unconstitutional
Federal Court Rules Florida Law That Undermined Voting Rights Restoration Is Unconstitutional
Federal Trial Concludes in Challenge to Florida Law That Undermines Voting Rights Restoration
Federal Appeals Court Blocks Florida Law That Undermines Voting Rights Restoration
