U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and other plaintiffs are seeking a trial next year in their challenge to a controversial Florida early-voting law, but Secretary of State Ken Detzner contends the lawsuit should be put on hold, according to a federal court filing.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan in September declined to issue a preliminary injunction against the 2011 law, which made changes such as reducing the number of early voting days. But Corrigan’s ruling did not end the lawsuit, which was filed by Brown and several other plaintiffs, including the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee and the Jacksonville chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
A document filed last week said the plaintiffs are seeking to start the legal process to go to trial in late 2013.
But Detzner is seeking a stay in the case until June 2013, which means it likely couldn’t go to trial until the following year.
The document indicates Detzner thinks state lawmakers might change the early-voting law during the 2013 legislative session and resolve the disputed issues.
“The 2013 regular session of the Legislature will take place from March 5, 2013, to May 4, 2013, and it may result in legislation modifying the challenged statute in a manner that would substantially alter the parameters of this litigation. … No party will be prejudiced by a brief stay, which might spare the court and litigants significant costs,” the document said in explaining Detzner’s position.
