Federal Judge Issues Ruling in DOJ's Bid for Maryland Voter Data
The ruling is the ninth court defeat for the department’s effort to obtain state voter databases, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
- On Thursday, a federal judge in Maryland denied the Department of Justice access to the state's voter registration list, marking the latest legal defeat for the administration's nationwide campaign to obtain state voter rolls.
- The Department of Justice sued Maryland in December 2025, citing legislative audits from 2019 and 2023 that suggested the state failed to remove deceased voters or duplicate registrations from its rolls.
- Ruling against the DOJ, District Judge Stephanie Gallagher wrote that the government's interpretation of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 would "criminalize the same conduct that the NVRA and HAVA require," calling it an "absurd result."
- Maryland Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis and the American Civil Liberties Union successfully defended the state, arguing voters should not fear "undue harassment" for exercising their right to register.
- This ruling represents the ninth time courts have rejected federal attempts to gain access to state voter databases, leaving the Department of Justice's broader campaign against 31 states facing significant legal uncertainty.
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Federal judge dismisses Justice Department lawsuit seeking detailed voter data from Maryland
A federal judge has dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit against Maryland that sought access to the state’s detailed voter records.
Federal judge dismisses Justice Department lawsuit seeking voter data from Maryland
The Trump administration’s attempts to obtain state-level voter data have suffered yet another legal blow. U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher last week dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit against Maryland that sought access to the state’s voter records. Gallagher, appointed by Republican President Donald Trump during his first term, wrote that she “joins every court to have addressed this issue” in concluding that the unredacted vo…
Federal judge blocks DOJ bid for Maryland’s confidential voter records
A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking access to Maryland’s voter registration database, ruling that federal law does not authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain confidential voter information maintained by the state.
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