Federal Judge Hears Challenge to Wisconsin Election Laws

By SCOTT BAUER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADISON, Wis. — May 16, 2016, 12:54 PM ET

An attorney challenging Wisconsin's election laws told a federal judge Monday that more than a dozen changes enacted since Gov. Scott Walker took office are discriminatory, embarrassing "and a stain on the history of the state."

The comments came during opening statements in a trial challenging the changes made by Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature since 2011, including provisions related to the photo identification requirement and limits placed on early voting times and locations.

U.S. District Judge James Peterson is presiding over the trial, which is expected to include testimony from more than 60 witnesses over the next two weeks.

Attorney Josh Kaul, who is representing two liberal activist groups and 10 voters challenging the laws, said evidence will show the changes create a "torturous" process making it harder to vote for college students, blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities who tend to support Democrats.

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