The Atlanta Lawyer August/September 2015 | Page 5

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director Emerita of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Anne Lewis, partner at Strickland, Brockington and Lewis and General Counsel of the Republican Party of Georgia; and Jason Carter, partner at Bondurant Mixon and Elmore and former Democratic State Senator. The panel was moderated by esteemed CNN News Anchor Fredricka Whitfield. The panel discussed the legal implications and effects of the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Shelby County on the current state of voting rights. In its landmark 2013 Shelby County ruling, the Court struck down Section 4, codified at 52 U.S.C.A. § 10303, (the formula which determines which jurisdictions are covered) on the grounds that the underlying data was outdated, rendering inoperable Section 5, codified at 52 U.S.C.A. § 10304 and referred to as the “Preclearance” provision, which required that covered jurisdictions submit proposed changes to voting procedures and practices to the government and demonstrate that they did not have the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on the grounds of race, color or membership in a language minority group. Changes such as the implementation of certain photo identification laws, the reduction or elimination of early voting, Sunday voting, same day registration and similar efforts to make voting more accessible are no longer subject to preclearance. Many have expressed concerns about the documented impact of some of these measures on minority participation in elections. The panel had a thoughtful and robust discussion about the benefits and burdens of preclearance and efforts to update the coverage formula with current data and about the Voting Rights Advancement Act, proposed legislation that is currently stalled in Congress. The panel discussion was followed by a truly historic conversation between Congressman Lewis and Fred Gray, which was moderated by renowned retired WSB-TV News Anchor Monica Pearson (formerly Monica Kaufman). One of the highlights of the evening for many was the discussion between these two civil rights giants about the historic Selma to Montgomery marches. Many have seen the movie “Selma” The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association which dramatized the events that led to the passage of the Act in 1965 and depicted one of the Selma to Montgomery marches during which Dr. King and the marchers did not proceed across the Edmond Pettus Bridge but instead turned back and returned to a church. Fred Gray provided the context and background for what was not included in the movie, explaining that Dr. King was obeying a federal injunction (sought by Mr. Gray and his legal team) while seeking protection from the federal court for the marchers in light of recent violence against them. Mr. Gray explained that the quick response of United States District Court Judge Frank Johnson, who asked Mr. Gray to control his clients until the hearing could take place, saved the marchers from further violence. Judge Johnson immediately ruled