U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama Madeline Hughes Haikala on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit from four Alabama A&M students and one staff member alleging voter suppression by Secretary of State John Merrill’s office and the Madison County Board of Registrars, according to WHNT.

Haikala, who was nominated by President Barack Obama in 2013 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year by a vote of 90-0, tossed the lawsuit, explaining that there was no evidence to support the claims that the named individuals registered ahead of the recent general election before the October 22 deadline.

This action came during a preliminary evidentiary hearing, suggesting that the lawsuit was baseless and did not belong in court.

The individuals, buoyed by the Madison County Democratic Party and loose reporting by the Alabama Media Group, initially claimed voter suppression five days before the November 6 general election. Immediately, Merrill shot down the claims, calling them “a lie.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn