MORNING HEADLINES | The S.C. Election Commission can turn over its voter database to the U.S. Department of Justice after the state Supreme Court on Thursday tossed a lower court injunction blocking the transfer.
In the unanimous ruling, the justices found that S.C. Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein’s Sept. 2 order “falls far short” of establishing that the South Carolina resident who sued to stop the transfer would suffer “immediate and irreparable damage” if election officials surrendered the information.
The Justice Department has said it needs state voter data to ensure federal election security, though critics note that widespread voter fraud has never been found in a modern American election.
With the injunction lifted and the case ready to proceed on the merits, Gov. Henry McMaster’s office lauded the Supreme Court’s ruling in a comment to the S.C. Daily Gazette.
“Gov. McMaster has said all along that this case was improper,” spokesman Brandon Charochak said in a statement. “Today’s ruling is a major victory for South Carolina.”
In court filings, attorneys for the governor argued that turning over the data wouldn’t cause harm to South Carolinians since the federal government already has virtually all the information in one place or another, though privacy advocates noted that some of that data is shielded from Justice Department access.
Despite the high court’s decision, attorney and Democratic state Sen. Brad Hutto, who’s leading the charge to stop the data release, told The Post and Courier that he doesn’t expect any immediate action.
“I think it’s highly unlikely the Election Commission is going to hit the ‘send’ button today, before we’ve had a hearing,” he said.
According to reports, the state Supreme Court will decide whether to take the case or allow it to continue moving through the lower courts on Sept. 21. — Jack O’Toole
Other stuff to do
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In Friday’s issue of the Charleston City Paper
CP OPINION: Draconian abortion bill is totally nuts. “A terrible trio of Upstate male state senators is at it again seeking to trample on South Carolina women, reproductive rights, freedom and free speech.”
- CP OPINION: Reale: Vaccines are keys to healthy communities
- CP CARTOON: Ariail: Quack
- CP CARTOON: Sick of it
CP FEATURE: Renaissance cowboy: Lovett to sparkle Sept. 24 in Charleston. The long tall Texan is coming to the Charleston Gaillard Center on Sept. 24, and it is, to put it mildly, one hell of an opportunity.
CP NEWS: Explosion of kratom worries Lowcountry experts, leaders. Charleston’s vape shops aren’t just selling flavored nicotine cartridges anymore. Kratom, a plant that historically has been used as a home-remedy painkiller, has exploded in popularity among smoke shops and other dens as a marketable, legal substitute for opium.
CP NEWS: Iconic Angel Oak poised for top honor. When an 18-year-old Septima P. Clark graduated from Avery Normal Institute in 1916, she landed a teaching job on Johns Island that was so isolated that it was only accessible by boat at high tide.
CP NEWS: Alternatives for S.C. women seeking reproductive health care. While a proposed bill in the S.C. Senate would totally ban abortions in South Carolina without exception, it also seeks potentially unconstitutional restrictions on speech, contraceptive access and in vitro fertilization.
CP FOOD: De Gullah Farmers Market set for Sept. 18–20 in East Cooper. Acclaimed Gullah chefs Charlotte and Kesha Jenkins will have the second installment of their new De Gullah Farmers Market Sept. 18–20 on a plot of family land in the historic Ten Mile community between Mount Pleasant and Awendaw.
CP MUSIC: Cray to bring 50 years of blues to Music Hall stage. Musician Robert Cray will walk onto the stage Sept. 16 at the Charleston Music Hall and let 50 years of the blues flow through his guitar. For five decades, Cray and his namesake band have been crisscrossing the globe, carrying on the tradition of the blues while adding modern rock ’n’ soul touches.
CP ARTS: Message from the Beast: Soften up, dude. Ahead of the North Charleston Performing Arts Center hosting the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast, Charleston City Paper talked to the Beast himself, Fergie L. Philippe, who shared how meaningful and multi-layered that making the Beast has been for him.
In other headlines
Federal judge upholds Dockside evacuation, ruling in favor of Charleston city officials. A federal judge has sided with city officials, upholding a February order to vacate the Dockside condominium tower and surrounding townhomes.
Charleston area to honor 9/11 heroes with 5K run. The 9/11 Heroes Run will return to Daniel Island Saturday, offering a way for community members to honor those who lost their lives during the Sept. 11 attacks and the military service members who fought in wars in the years after.
Summerville’s Main Street redevelopment moves forward despite opposition. Amidst a wave of opposition from residents, the Summerville City Council voted to move forward with the redevelopment of 500 N. Main St. at a city council meeting on Thursday night.
Residents fear gridlock as Charleston considers major housing expansion. Hundreds of new homes and apartments are being built along Clements Ferry Road, but some people who live in the area are worried that the infrastructure cannot keep up with the development.
S.C. law enforcement to crack down on unsafe drivers after 3 troopers hit. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety will address Monday the recent string of troopers being hit by vehicles while performing traffic stops.
Former Lowcountry educator launches campaign for S.C. Superintendent of Education. Sylvia Wright, a North Charleston native and former educator, officially announced her plans to seek the Democratic nomination for state superintendent of education.
S.C. sinking old boats, concrete dinosaur off state coast for artificial reefs. The Two Brothers, a former supply vessel, was pushed 27 miles from the Georgetown Landing Marina to the Cape Romain Reef to become the 23rd artificial reef in a partnership between S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the Coastal Conservation Association, a science-based, angler advocacy grassroots organization.
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