Legal ‘Seachange’ Blocks Voters’ Racial Discrimination Suits (2)

A landmark ruling will block Black and minority voting rights groups in seven states from suing under a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, impacting litigation on election laws and setting up a potential clash for the US Supreme Court.

The Eight Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that there is no “private right of action” under Section 2 of the powerful civil rights law, and that only the US Department of Justice can bring racial gerrymandering suits under that provision. The decision dismissed a case brought by Black Arkansas voters who the lower court said likely had ...