Court Cases
Voting After Criminal Conviction
Farrakhan v. Gregoire
The Ninth Circuit held that Washington's criminal disenfranchisement law violates the Voting Rights Act. The decision is the first in the country to find that, due to racial discrimination in the state's criminal justice system, the felony disenfranchisement law results in the denial of the right to vote on account of race.
– 01/05/10
Simmons v. Galvin
Simmons vs. Galvin was a challenge to the Massachusetts law which disenfranchises people with felony convictions from voting while they are incarcerated.In a 2-1 decision, the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling and held that no claims can be brought against Massachusetts law under the Voting Rights Act.
– 08/05/09
Johnson v. Bredesen
The Center filed an amicus brief with the 6th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals in support of the plaintiff’s challenge to Tennessee’s voter restoration law denying voting rights to individuals with felony convictions. Individuals are not eligible to vote until they pay child support arrears and/or restitution.
– 04/23/09
Coronado v. Napolitano
The Center filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit of the US Court of Appeals in support of the plaintiff's challenge to Arizona's statutory provision denying voting rights to individuals with felony convictions. Voting rights are withheld until those individuals have paid any court-ordered fees, fines, or restitution.
– 02/05/09
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children v. Bowen
This is case is class action Equal Protection challenge to California’s disenfranchisement law, which bars persons with felony convictions from voting while they are in prison and on parole.
– 12/09/08
Madison v. Washington
This case challenges a Washington State law preventing people with felony convictions who cannot pay their legal financial obligations from regaining their right to vote.
– 07/26/07
Gooden v. Worley
The Brennan Center filed an amicus brief in support of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund's lawsuit to compel the Secretary of State to register eligible Alabama voters.
– 06/01/07