Appeals court says private citizens, civil rights groups can't sue under Voting Rights Act

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

54% : "But assuming their existence, and even discussing them, is different from actually deciding that a private right of action exists," Circuit Judge David Stras wrote for the majority.
50% : " In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Lavenski Smith, argued he would follow existing precedents that allows citizens to seek judicial action until the court rules or Congress amends the statute.
45% : In a 2-1 decision, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the text of the Voting Rights Act does not explicitly call for a "private right of action" and that it remains unclear if Section 2 of the act creates an individual right to bring forth such legal challenges.
42% : "While that private right has been called into question by two Supreme Court justices the Supreme Court has yet to overrule itself on that precise issue," Smith wrote, later adding, "Until the Supreme Court instructs otherwise, I would hold that § 2 contains an implied private right of action."

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