Ga. Dems challenge voter ID law

Georgia’s Democratic Party on Friday filed suit against a 2006 state law upholding the constitutionality of photo voter ID's.

The move comes despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling approving photo ID's at Indiana voting stations.

State Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided on the issue: Democrats charge that requiring photo ID to cast a ballot disenfranchises the poor and minorities. Republicans, however, contend that such ID's are a useful tool for fighting voter fraud.

Party spokesman Martin Matheny says the Indiana case is different enough and it allows parties to sue over the issue:

"What makes it happen is the decision in the Indiana case. 'Let's us get up there and have a serious legal discussion.''

Matheny says the State constitution says nothing about photo ID’s for voting.

However, according to Matt Caruthers, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Karen Handel:

"This is an absurd and frivolous lawsuit. The issue has been decided at the Supreme Court district court and Georgia Supreme Court. And defending it will amount in a huge waste of Georgia taxpayer money. "

The suit, filed at the Fulton county superior court asks for an injunction of the law for the July 15 primary.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of this issue.

Alderman gets stay of execution

Convicted killer Jack Alderman received a stay by Georgia's top court Thursday, which delays his execution scheduled for today. In their decision, the state's top justices cited the move by the U.S Supreme Court to look at the challenge to lethal injection, and whether it violates the Constitution. Just recently, the nation's top court stepped-in to halt an execution in Virginia. Alderman is on death row for the murder of his wife in 1974.

Alderman plea denied by state's top court

Attorneys for death row inmate Jack Alderman will be back before the state Board of Pardons and Paroles today, looking to block his execution set for Friday. Yesterday, Georgia’s Supreme Court denied Alderman’s request for stay of execution. The decision by Georgia’s top court comes as other states have put executions on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether lethal injection violates the Constitution. Nevada just last night became the latest state to halt an execution--just 90 minutes before it was to take place.