{
  "id": 16846315,
  "title": "Judge to appoint special master in California voting case in setback to Trump admin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/judge-to-appoint-special-master-in-california-voting-case-in-setback",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T04:17:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News (US)",
    "slug": "abc-news-us",
    "url": "https://abcnews.com/Politics/judge-appoint-special-master-california-voting-case-setback/story?id=137622503"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A federal district judge overseeing a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department is set to appoint a special master to investigate the department's process in compiling a list of approximately 20,000 California voters it alleges are likely noncitizens. This decision comes just a week before the state's midterm election and represents a setback for the Trump administration's efforts to intervene in the election. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter appeared skeptical of the Department of Justice's request for a restraining order, expressing doubt about the administration's efforts to force a \"monumental change\" in California's election procedures. While the DOJ claims it is merely pushing for state compliance with federal law, state officials and legal advocates oppose the lawsuit, arguing it violates constitutional principles and could cause chaos in tabulating final vote counts. Judge Carter cautioned the administration against making threats to state and county elected employees, urging them to cease such actions immediately. The case stems from the DOJ's lawsuit against California, accusing the state of failing to review the list of alleged noncitizens who received mail-in ballots for the upcoming midterm election.",
  "summary": "The judge appeared skeptical of the DOJ's request for a restraining order.",
  "key_points": [
    "Federal judge to appoint special master in California voting case",
    "Decision made a week before state's midterm election",
    "DOJ's efforts to intervene in election seen as setback for Trump admin"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "US judge says he will rule Wednesday in lawsuit over California voter rolls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/us-judge-says-he-will-rule-wednesday-in-lawsuit-over-california-voter",
        "published": "2026-10-27T23:48:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}