Election Law
Judge Tosses Suit Seeking Seating of Democratic Delegates
Posted May 29, 2008, 08:58 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A federal judge in Tampa has tossed a lawsuit that seeks to force the Democratic Party to seat Florida delegates.
Judge Richard Lazzara said the party has the right to make its own rules, CNN reports.
The suit by Democratic strategist Victor DiMaio had contended the party’s plan to penalize Florida for holding its primary too early discriminates against the state’s voters, the Associated Press reports.
Florida Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller has filed a similar lawsuit. It contends the party is violating the Voting Rights Act by disenfranchising minority voters.
The rules committee of the Democratic National Committee is expected to meet Saturday to determine whether to seat delegates from Florida as well as Michigan, which was also penalized for holding its state primary early.
Updated at 11:30 a.m. to link to prior coverage.
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