Democrat won't keep defending North Carolina voter ID law

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper will no longer defend the state's voter ID law, now that a federal appeals court has ruled it was passed with "discriminatory intent."

The governor and GOP legislative leaders are planning appeals using taxpayer funds to pay their own lawyers, some of them in private practice.

The governor and legislative leaders reject arguments that the law was meant to discriminate, saying voter ID is supported by most voters, who want to protect the integrity of the election process.