 That ruling applies only to seven southern and midwestern states and was upheld by a panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The American Civil Liberties Union tells NPR they decided not to ask the Supreme Court to step in because similar cases are moving forward in the 8th Circuit. But in one of those cases, Republican officials in North Dakota are still arguing that private groups cannot bring these lawsuits. Hansi Lewong, NPR News.