As an attorney in private practice, Obama represented ACORN in a 1995 lawsuit against the State of Illinois seeking to force the state to implement the National Voter Law of 1993, the federal “motor voter” registration law. The June 5, 1995, decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in the case, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), et al., v. [then-Illinois Gov.] James R. Edgar, affirmed the lower court's finding for the plaintiff-appellees including ACORN, the United States of America, the League of Women Voters of Illinois, and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The decision identifies Obama as counsel representing ACORN.
COUNSEL: For ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR REFORM NOW, (ACORN), EQUIP FOR EQUALITY, INCORPORATED, JACQUELINE ANDRADE, SWENDOLYN COLEMAN, CHINETHA DIXON, JOEY L. WOODEN, Plaintiffs - Appellees (95-1800): Judson H. Miner, Jeffrey Cummings, Barack H. Obama, DAVIS, MINER, BARNHILL & GALLAND, Chicago, IL.
For CATHERINE A. CALDER, RENE D. LUNA, LEAGUE OF WOMAN VOTERS OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiffs - Appellees (95-1801): Thomas R. Meites, Joan H. Burger, Lynn S. Frackman, Paul W. Mollica, MEITES, FRACKMAN, MULDER & BURGER, Chicago, IL.
For UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee (95-1802): Joan C. Laser, AUSA, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Criminal Division, Chicago, IL. Steven H. Rosenbaum, Samuel R. Bagenstos, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Civil Rights Division, Appellate Section, Washington, DC. Thomas P. Walsh, AUSA, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Civil Division, Chicago, IL. Tricia A. Tingle, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, DC.
For LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, Plaintiff - Appellee (95-1803): Maria G. Valdez, MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND, Chicago, IL. Arthur Aram Baer, PUERTO RICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND, INC., New York, NY.