Blake Feldman News Today

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) - The Mississippi Supreme Court released their long-awaited decision on the constitutionality of House Bill 1020. The court ruled that while the Mississippi Legislature is allowed to create separate inferior courts, such as the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) court, the appointment of judges violates the Mississippi Constitution. Writing for the majority, [...]

2-1 ruling on policy that revoked voting rights for certain people with felony convictions is surprise victory from conservative court

The United States Supreme Court upheld, on June 30, a century-old Mississippi law used during the “Jim Crow” segregationist era to deny Black people in the state the right to vote, reports Malik Miah.

Court turns away case on law implemented over a century ago with explicit goal of preventing Black people from voting

Court turns away case on law implemented over a century ago with explicit goal of preventing Black people from voting

House Bill 1020 isn’t set to take effect till July 1. But there are other dates within the bill. Two legal challenges are seeking to put a stop to its implementation before a judge starts making appointments.

The NAACP has sued Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves after he signed two bills that largely expand state authority over the city of Jackson, the state’s capital. It isn’t the only challenge to SB 2343 and HB 1020.

Mississippi is one of only 11 states with laws on the books that can keep some people from voting again, even if they’ve served the time following their crime. And it’s the only state that requires people convicted of certain felonies to petition the Legislature to restore their voting rights. Advocates are hoping that will soon change.

Many states prevent those once convicted of a felony from voting but one stands out for the scale and complexity of its law

<strong>Revealed:</strong> Fewer than 200 of those affected have been able to regain their voting rights in the last quarter century