University of Virginia Library

Stay Of Execution

After the three court panel denied the
ACLU request, the ACLU returned to Judge
Merhige asking for a stay of execution of the
panel's denial. When Judge Merhige refused and
the ACLU went to the Supreme Court Chief
Justice asking for a stay pending normal appeal.

The ACLU instituted the action for five
students asking that they be allowed to register
and vote in their college communities after the
Attorney General's opinion on eligibility was
issued July 21.

In order to register in the college
community a student had to satisfy the
registrar that he was is every sense a "resident."
The burden of proof lay with the student.

Students who live in the college community
year round, register their automobiles in the
community, work there in the summer and pay
taxes to the community, and list the
community as their legal address would be able
to register if they could convince the registrar
that all the above was true.

All other students were advised by the
Attorney General's office to register at home.