North Dakota, is on the hook for Paymment in Plaintiffs' Attorney Fees, and Mediator Costs, stemming from Tribal Lawsuits over State Voter Identification Requirements.
An 8th U.S. Circuit of Appeals Panel, Upheld a Federal Judge's, May 2020 Order, that the State Pay $452,983.
Secretary of State, Al Jaeger (R) said in a Statement that: "The decision is being reviewed and all options are being considered." He did Not Elaborate or say where the Money would come from to Pay the Bill.
The State in February 2020, Agreed to Settle longstanding Legal Disputes, with Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Members, as well as, the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes.
The crux of the Tribal Claims, was that North Dakota’s Requirement that Voters have Identification with a Provable Street Address, creates a Voting Barrier for Native Americans, who live on Reservations where Street Addresses are hard to come by.
The Dispute, at one point, reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. District Judge, Dan Hovland, in April 2020, Approved the Agreement, which included Provisions that aimed to ensure Native American Voters have Valid IDs and can Meet the Address Requirement.
The Deal also called for the State to Reimburse each Tribe, up to $5,000, for the Cost of Issuing Addresses and Identification for that year’s Election Cycle, and to Pay the Cost of a Mediator the Two Sides used.
Jaeger at the time, estimated the amount to be about $9,000.
Plaintiffs' Attorneys also sought more than $1.1 Million in Attorney Fees and Expenses. The State found the Claim Unreasonable and Objected.
Hovland later sided with the Tribes but Reduced the Amount by 60%, saying some claimed Expenses were Excessive.
The State Appealed, saying the Request had been filed Too Late. The Appellate Judges agreed but said the Gaffe was "Excusable."
"There is no evidence that the plaintiffs acted in bad faith," the Panel wrote in its Decision upholding Hovland's Order.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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