Thread: Court date set in fight over Alabama's immigration law

wsfa.com
WAFF.
Posted: Jan 02, 2012 2:16 PM EST Updated: Jan 02, 2012 3:12 PM EST

ATLANTA, GA (WAFF) -

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals set March 1st to hear oral arguments in the fight over Alabama's immigration law.

Attorneys for the state will be in Atlanta defending the law which is being challenged by the Obama administration and civil rights advocates.

In December, the appeals court denied requests by Georgia and Alabama to delay action on legal challenges to their tough new laws targeting illegal immigration pending the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court decision on a similar challenge to Arizona's immigration law.

The 11th U.S. Circuit of Appeals issued orders denying motions filed by the attorneys general of the two states. The Supreme Court said Dec. 12 that it would review a federal appeals court ruling that blocked parts of the Arizona law.

Both Georgia and Alabama's laws have been challenged by activist groups, and Alabama's has also been challenged by the Obama administration. Both cases were set for hearings in the federal appeals court early next year.

AP contributed to this report.

http://www.wsfa.com/story/16430066/c...mmigration-law

waff.com
By Jack Madison
Posted: Jan 02, 2012 5:47 PM EST
Updated: Jan 02, 2012 6:12 PM EST

DECATUR, AL (WAFF) -

The appeal against Alabama's immigration law has been set in the docket. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for March 1st, a month before the U.S. Supreme Court will listen to the appeal of Arizona's similar immigration law.

In the Alabama case, attorneys for the state will be in Atlanta defending the law, which is being challenged by the Obama administration and civil rights advocates.

State House sponsor Mickey Hammon of Decatur said the tough law will likely head to the Supreme Court after the 11th Circuit's ruling.

The 11th Circuit previously upheld some key parts of the Alabama immigration law, including the requirements for law enforcement to check citizen status of drivers they pull over who do not produce a license. Hammon said he believes the appeal led by the U.S. Department of Justice will not hold up in court.

"We feel confident that our law will hold up in court. As a matter of fact, more of our law has been upheld so far than anyone else's. So, we feel confident that when our law reaches the Supreme Court, all or the majority of our law will be upheld," Hammon said. "We have done very well in the 11th Circuit so far. A lot of our law has been upheld there so far and allowed to go into effect. So that's a very good sign. Even the parts that they have stayed, our attorney general will continue to appeal those decisions. And I'm sure all of this will be before the Supreme Court soon. But, we feel confident. We're going to win this case."

The Supreme Court has already upheld the E-Verify part of Alabama's immigration law. As of January 1st, companies doing business with the government must use the system to verify employers' legal workers. All state businesses have to adhere to the law by April.

http://www.waff.com/story/16431097/o...ld-up-in-court