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.
15 Articles
15 Articles
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.
Federal judge rejects DOJ's demands to force Maryland to turn over voter database
A federal judge on Monday rejected the U.S. Department of Justice’s attempt to force Maryland election officials to turn over the state’s unredacted statewide voter registration list. What led to this point The DOJ sent a letter in July 2025, requesting that Maryland turn over the state’s complete voter file. Maryland Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis responded to inquire as to the purpose of the request. The DOJ responded in another letter…
Federal judge tosses Justice Department lawsuit seeking Maryland voter records
Maryland Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis speaks to reporters outside the federal court building in Baltimore earlier this month, after a hearing on the federal lawsuit to force the state to turn over voter registration records. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)A federal district judge has dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit demanding Maryland voter registration records, what state officials derided as a “fishing expedition” fo…
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