A federal lawsuit challenging Wyoming’s new voter registration law is drawing national attention, as high-profile attorneys from both ends of the political spectrum prepare to argue the case in court, Oil City News reports.
The legislation, set to take effect on July 1, requires individuals registering to vote in Wyoming to provide proof of US citizenship and state residency. It was a key priority for Secretary of State Chuck Gray and conservative lawmakers in the state. In May, the Equality State Policy Center (ESPC), a Wyoming-based voting rights group, filed a legal challenge, arguing the law is overly vague and creates unnecessary barriers to voting.
Representing ESPC are attorneys from the Elias Law Group — one of the most active national firms in voting rights litigation — and the Colorado-based civil rights firm Killmer Lane. The Elias firm, led by attorney Marc Elias, has been involved in election-related cases across the US, including legal challenges to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
On the other side, Secretary Gray has retained several well-known legal teams to defend the law, including the Dhillon Law Group — a firm that previously represented former President Donald Trump — Colorado’s Gessler Blue law firm, and Cheyenne-based Falen Law Offices. The Dhillon firm, founded by attorney Harmeet Dhillon, was involved in multiple high-profile cases during and after the Trump presidency, including efforts to challenge state-level decisions to keep Trump on or off the ballot.
Both sides’ involvement of prominent national legal counsel has elevated the profile of the case and suggested it could become a lengthy and closely watched legal battle.
“We are proud to represent the Equality State Policy Center in this critical lawsuit because Wyoming voters deserve free, fair, and secure elections,” said Elisabeth Frost of Elias Law Group in a statement. “Voting rights should not be a partisan issue.”
Secretary Gray, meanwhile, defended his legal team’s qualifications, citing their experience with election law and work on conservative causes.
“They have shown themselves to be strong upholders of conservative values, including election integrity,” Gray said in a statement.
The case is currently in early stages, with ESPC seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from being enforced while litigation is ongoing. On June 10, Gray’s attorneys requested more time to prepare a response and asked the court to reconsider its decision not to hold a hearing.
While US District Judge Scott Skavdahl allowed a partial extension, he rejected the request for a hearing, noting Gray had already publicly stated he was preparing a vigorous defense. Gray’s legal team now has until Friday to file their response.
