Cooper asks court to keep law

Roy Cooper will intervene in a Supreme Court case.

The attorney general told a sympathetic crowd of civil rights and social justice advocates Wednesday that he will ask the justices to preserve a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that requires the federal government approve state election law changes.

A municipal utility in Texas is fighting the provision. But Cooper said that federal oversight helps ensure racial bias does not taint elections.

"This is important to make sure that we make the electoral process fair," Cooper said in an interview. "We've entered into the lawsuit because it's a matter of critical importance."

Attorneys general in New York, California, Mississippi, Arizona and Louisiana have joined Cooper's friend-of-the-court brief. 

The personal appearance to announce a court filing is unusual. Cooper is considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2010. (N&O)