Well, sounds like Congress screwed up. There's a shock.
You should revise the headline - "Congress Blocks Public Ability to Sue for Voting Rights" which is closer to the truth it appears.
Rather than blame the Justice Department for attempting to follow the law as passed by Congress, gratuitously including the name of bogeyman John Ashcroft, of course, you should speak to your Congressman and Senators about how they blew it.
Cheers,
Daiwa