Of the three branches of government, only the court is in a position to protect minorities from the “tyranny of the majority.” Elected officials need the support of popular opinion and so can seldom afford to defend unpopular causes.

A court has struck down the new Texas law requiring voters to present photo identification before casting a ballot.

The court ruled that the law would place “strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor”, and upon racial minorities. The court said that placing and additional cost of having to purchase a photo id would amount to a poll tax.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19429409