RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring has filed a response in a lawsuit filed by GOP leaders attempting to block more than 200,000 ex-felons from voting this fall.
Herring, a Democrat, asked the Virginia Supreme Court to throw out the Republican-led lawsuit on Monday.
The attorney general said Gov. Terry McAuliffe had clear legal authority to issue a blanket restoration of rights orders starting in April. Republicans have argued that McAuliffe should only restore civil rights - like voting, serving on juries or being able to run for office - on an individual basis.
The high court is expected in July to hear arguments in the lawsuit. A conservative legal advocacy group has filed a second lawsuit challenging McAuliffe's restoration of rights.
