Bobby R. Tyler v. David Collins, Norman Quincy Wright v. David Collins

MERRITT, Circuit Judge.

These two appeals have been consolidated for opinion because they raise the same issue: the constitutionality of Tennessee’s law depriving convicted felons of the right to vote. Both appellants were convicted and sentenced prior to the passage of the laws which declared all felonies infamous and disenfranchised convicted felons. They challenge the law alleging that its retroactive application violates the ex post facto clause, Article I, Section 10 of the Federal Constitution and the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment.

Before 1972, certain felonies were…