Trump-appointed judge dismisses DOJ's Utah voter registration suit

Key Points:

• A federal judge appointed by President Trump dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit demanding Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson turn over detailed state voter data, marking another legal setback for the administration's efforts to address alleged illegal voting.
• The DOJ sought comprehensive voter information, including names, birthdays, addresses, and partial Social Security or driver’s license numbers, but Judge David Barlow ruled against the request, citing legal interpretations that the data was created and maintained by the state official.
• This ruling is part of over 25 voter-roll litigation defeats faced by the Trump administration, with the DOJ planning to appeal the decision despite the case being dismissed with prejudice.
• Utah’s Lt. Gov. Henderson praised the ruling for protecting voter privacy and vowed to continue safeguarding free and secure elections, while the DOJ maintains ongoing cases in Hawaii, Idaho, and Delaware and appeals in California and Oregon.
• The DOJ argues the Civil Rights Act of 1960 should compel states to share voter data to enforce federal election laws, but the court emphasized adherence to the exact statutory language over broader interpretations of legislative purpose.