ELECTION LAW The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a federal judge’s ruling that a 2021 elections law was discriminatory against Black voters. The law imposed new restrictions on mail-in voting and voter registration groups and prohibited people from giving snacks and drinks to voters waiting in line to cast ballots.
SANCTUARY CITY LAW A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel has reinstated the 2019 law banning state and local agencies from implementing policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration agents. The City of South Miami and several immigrant rights organizations originally sued the governor and attorney general to stop the law from taking effect.
MIAMI DISTRICT MAPS A federal magistrate judge has recommended that the City of Miami throw out its most recent district maps and draft a new one before this November’s elections, saying there is “substantial evidence” that the city is guilty of racial gerrymandering. Because this was a magistrate judge’s recommendation, both the plaintiffs and the city have a chance to object to it before it is kicked up to a federal judge.
EX-MAYOR & GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE A Florida federal jury found former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic ex-gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum not guilty of lying to federal investigators in a corruption case about allegedly misused campaign funds. The jury deadlocked on the remaining 17 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. The judge declared a mistrial and dismissed the remaining charges.