Democratic AGs sue to force US to ratify ERA
RICHMOND, Va. — Three Democratic state attorneys general are suing a U.S. government official to force him to recognize Virginia's vote this week to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and certify the measure as part of the Constitution.
The lawsuit filed Thursday against the archivist of the United States comes after the National Archives and Records Administration said this week that David Ferriero would “take no action to certify the adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment.” Supporters say the measure, which Congress passed with bipartisan support in 1972 and sent to the states for approval, will guarantee women equal rights under the law.
“After generations of effort, the women of this country are entitled to their rightful place in the Constitution. This Court should compel
the Archivist to carry out his statutory duty of recognizing the complete and final adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment,” the lawsuit says.
Many ERA opponents say the measure is unnecessary and could have consequences that end up harming women.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is partnering with Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on the lawsuit filed in U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Before Virginia's vote this week that made it the critical 38th state to approve the ERA, Nevada in 2017 and Illinois in 2018 were the most recent to ratify the amendment.