Virginia Supreme Court to Hear Felon Case Challenge July 19

The Virginia State Supreme Court has agreed to expedite the petition of General Assembly Republican legislators and voters and hear their case July 19 against Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s executive action to grant 206,000 felons civil rights, which include sitting on juries, voting, etc.

“We are pleased the Supreme Court recognizes the urgency of our challenge to Governor McAuliffe’s unprecedented and unconstitutional expansion of executive power,” said Speaker Howell. “A plain reading of the Constitution, 240 years of Virginia history and precedent-setting Virginia Supreme Court cases make the case against the executive order overwhelming. We are confident the constitution and rule of law will prevail.”

“Governor McAuliffe’s unprecedented executive overreach left the legislative branch with no choice but to challenge his order in the most expeditious manner possible,” said Majority Leader Norment. “Clearly, the Supreme Court understands the urgency of this, and I am confident the Court will ultimately find the order unconstitutional.”

This is ultimately an interpretation of the governor’s powers granted under the state constitution: Is he to restore rights on a case-by-case basis (as has been more than two centuries of precedent) or does he have the authority to do it indiscriminately and by his own whimsy?

We’ll know soon.