The Department of Justice said they plan to appeal a lawsuit that was dropped by a federal judge against Utah Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson. Henderson was accused of withholding voter information from the DOJ that she deemed private.
On Friday, Oct. 23, U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow threw out the lawsuit against Henderson after siding with her, saying she is not required to release voter information to the DOJ.
“We appreciate Judge Barlow’s ruling dismissing the Department of Justice’s lawsuit that sought to force us to disclose the private data of every Utah voter,” Henderson said in a statement about the ruling. “Our office will continue to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the fundamental right to free, fair, and secure elections for the people of Utah.”
The lawsuit was filed in February, and Henderson argued that neither state nor federal law gives the DOJ authority to ask for private voter information.
Henderson said she will protect Utah voters’ private information such as full names, dates of birth, addresses, and even driver’s license and Social Security numbers.
Henderson was previously notified by the DOJ that she was under investigation after failing to release voter data.
Author: Andrew Streeter
Photo courtesy of Spenser Heaps, Utah News Dispatch
Editor: Hannah Clove
news@suunews.net
