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McAuliffe had issued a sweeping executive order in April that affected 206,000 ex-offenders in the state.
In a 4-3 ruling, the state's justices said under the state constitution, McAuliffe didn't have the authority for such a proclamation.
[...] Nothing stops the governor from granting rights to felons on an individual basis, but the justices said it was unconstitutional to do it through a blanket order.
[...] Under McAuliffe's order, the restoration of rights only extended to felons who have finished serving their terms — anyone in prison, or on supervised probation or parole, was still barred from voting. The order also granted felons the right to serve on juries and become a notary.
[...] He also noted that most states allow felons who have completed their terms to vote — Iowa, Kentucky and Florida are the only other exceptions.
[...] "Republicans suspect the real motive for McAuliffe's order is political," [NPR's] Pam [Fessler] reported [earlier this month]. "The governor is a close ally of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who could benefit from more African-American voters if the race in Virginia is tight. McAuliffe denied that was his reason for issuing the order."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 25 2016, @01:33AM
Everyone makes mistakes, so I think people shouldn't be treated or labeled as lifetime felons unless they were convicted of three felony crimes. Anyone with three or more felony counts will always be a criminal and deserve no vote, welfare, social security, or any other benefit. I also think prisons should be stripped of all amenities except for food, water, and a cell. To sum it up... Crime shouldn't pay if you're a repeat offender.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by quintessence on Monday July 25 2016, @02:15AM
Crime shouldn't pay if you're a repeat offender.
So this is how it works:
Suppose you are young and stupid and get nixed for a somewhat serious but non-violent crime... let's say shoplifting a laptop.
If it's valued over $401, that's felony shoplifting, punishable by $1000 fine and up to 6 months in jail.
On top of that, the DA threatens you with a hoard of other charges he could add, but if you cop a plea, he'll give you time served with probation. You think your guardian angel is smiling on you, and you take the deal.
Congratulations. You now have at least one felony conviction on your record.
While on probation, you go visit your friend out of state, and didn't notify your parole officer.
Congratulations. You now have two or more felony convictions.
And 30 years later, who knows, maybe you piss off the wrong person, maybe you get mouthy with a cop, maybe you just have a pulse
"There is no one in the United States over the age of 18 who cannot be indicted for some federal crime," said John Baker, a retired Louisiana State University law professor who has also tried counting the number of new federal crimes created in recent years. "That is not an exaggeration."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304319804576389601079728920 [wsj.com]
And that's three (unless you have more money than the state to fight it).
Is it really worth stripping someone like that of all those rights?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 25 2016, @10:39AM
That's more than just "young and stupid". It's evil. Unless by "young" you mean under the age of approximately 12, I'm ready to say that you are unfit for society. The use of a noose is indicated.
No, I don't care to spend money pretending to reform you. That seldom works, and anyway we have no shortage of humans. Your value to society is negative. You go bye-bye.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday July 25 2016, @06:05PM
You'll keep gushing this one out your flapping foodsucker right up until it's you in the chair. I've seen this pattern repeated hundreds of times.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 25 2016, @10:24PM
Well, duh. This isn't some fine print thing you make it out to be. That's one of the obvious ones you're hit with when you get put on parole.