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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The federal government has officially objected to claims that South Carolina's new voter identification law is fair to minorities.

Lawyers for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made those arguments in court papers filed Monday in Washington.

The filing was in response to a lawsuit by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. The Republican sued Holder earlier this year, arguing that the state's new law that requires voters to have photo ID law is not discriminatory.

The Justice Department blocked the law in December, saying it could keep tens of thousands of the state's minorities from casting ballots. Justice officials also said the law failed to meet requirements of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

A scheduling conference in the case is set for Friday.

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