Justice Department attorneys say the recent partial shutdown of the federal government has contributed to a delay in compiling documents the state seeks in a case involving the state's private school tuition voucher program.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Justice Department attorneys say the recent partial shutdown of the federal government has contributed to a delay in compiling documents the state seeks in a case involving the state's private school tuition voucher program.
Justice lawyers have asked the court to grant a Dec. 16 deadline to provide the documents.
The case arises from an August filing in which the Justice Department said the voucher program affects the racial balance in school districts that are under desegregation orders.
Justice lawyers say they need more time to gather documents the state wants, including copies of numerous desegregation orders. They also argue that the documents won't be needed for a Nov. 22 hearing on a key legal question: whether a desegregation order in a 1975 case applies to the voucher program.