High court takes Austin case

From statesman, January 10, 2009...

Launching a national debate on racial discrimination in America, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday accepted a case from a small Austin utility that argues that key portions of the Voting Rights Act are outdated and no longer necessary to protect minority voters.

The suddenly high-profile case could produce a milestone decision in election law and civil rights.

Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1, which serves about 3,500 customers in the Canyon Creek neighborhood, has asked the high court to overturn a provision requiring that every government in Texas receive approval from the U.S. Justice Department before changing voting procedures.

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