The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition to review Texas’ voter identification law, but left open the possibility that it may review the case in the future.
At issue in the case was a 2011 Texas bill that required voters to present government-issued photo identification before or shortly after casting a ballot in-person. After proceedings in lower courts, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Supreme Court to determine whether the voter-ID law was enacted with discriminatory intent on the basis of race and whether the bill had the impact of harming voting rights on account of race.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement upon the petition’s denial that said the Supreme Court may still choose to review the case going forward.
“Although there is no barrier to our review, the discriminatory purpose claim is in an interlocutory posture, having been remanded for further consideration,” Roberts wrote. “Petitioners may raise either or both issues again after entry of final judgment. The issues will be better suited for certiorari review at that time.”
On Friday, Justice Department attorneys sought to postpone a district court hearing on the Texas voter ID law so that the government lawyers could confer with officials selected by President Trump. A Justice Department led by Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions may look more favorably on Texas’ law, and the new administration may choose to change the government’s position in the case.
