Federal Judge Blocks Voter Data Request
The Trump administration faced a new legal setback when a federal judge in West Virginia dismissed its bid to obtain unredacted state voter registration records. U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston, appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled that the administration’s legal arguments had significant “factual deficiencies.” The court dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit against West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner, aimed at securing the state’s complete voter registration list.
Judge Johnston stated that the government’s request did not meet the statutory requirements under the Civil Rights Act of 1960. He also denied a motion to compel the production of the records, noting that this aligns with multiple federal court rulings rejecting similar lawsuits by the administration.
Reasons for the Rejection
The dispute originated from a request by Attorney General Pam Bondi in September 2025, asking West Virginia for full voter registration details, including names, dates of birth, and addresses. The Justice Department argued it needed this information to assess compliance with federal election laws like the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.
Judge Johnston found that the request lacked a statutory “basis.” The judge explained that the letter from the Attorney General outlined legal authority but failed to provide a factual rationale for requiring the records. The department did not provide evidence of West Virginia’s noncompliance with federal laws, showing no anomalies or specific concerns about the state’s data.
Lack of Factual Basis
Johnston criticized the Justice Department for not supporting its demand with facts. He emphasized that federal pleading standards require detailed factual allegations, quoting Supreme Court precedent on the necessity of making claims “plausible on [their] face.” The failure to provide a factual basis meant the court did not need to address additional concerns about privacy laws or state protections.
A Pattern of Legal Defeats
Judge Johnston’s decision follows numerous similar rulings. Federal courts in states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Wisconsin, along with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, have dismissed similar lawsuits. The judge underscored that no court has favored the United States in these matters to date.
About Judge Thomas E. Johnston
Thomas E. Johnston has served as a U.S. district judge since 2006. Before his federal judgeship, he worked as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. Although known as a conservative jurist, Johnston’s ruling illustrates the independent review that federal judges, regardless of their political background, apply to executive branch cases.