Appeals court refuses to hear voter ID case

A state appeals court said it won’t hear the state’s request to lift an injunction blocking Wisconsin’s new voter identification law.

Two minority advocacy groups filed a lawsuit in December alleging the law places a burden on voters. Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan issued a temporary injunction blocking the law while he considers the case. He’s not expected to rule until late June at the earliest.

State attorneys asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to lift the injunction but the court refused to take the case. The 2nd District Court of Appeals said Wednesday it wouldn’t take the case either because Flanagan hasn’t issued a decision.

Another Dane County judge in a separate case issued a permanent injunction blocking the law. The state’s appeal in that case is pending.