Case Summary

On July 30, 2019, a group of Michigan voters filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Michigan Constitution’s eligibility requirements for the newly established Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission as restricting their ability to serve on the Commission based on their political activities in violation of the 1st and 14th Amendments. They sought a declaratory judgment that the eligibility requirements were unconstitutional and a preliminary injunction barring the Secretary of State from proceeding with commissioner selections.

• On September 11, 2019, the federal district court granted the Michigan Secretary of State’s request to consolidate this case with a similar constitutional challenge to the Commission’s procedures, Michigan Republican Party v. Benson.
• On November 25, 2019, the district court denied the preliminary injunction request and the plaintiffs appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. On April 15, 2020, the 6th Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision.
• Plaintiffs filed a petition for rehearing en banc with the 6th Circuit on May 13, 2020, which the Court denied on June 19, 2020.
• On July 6, 2020, the district court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the consolidated cases. The Daunt plaintiffs appealed to the 6th Circuit on August 4, 2020, and oral arguments were held on March 17, 2021.
• On May 27, 2021, the 6th Circuit upheld the Commission’s eligibility requirements as constitutional. The 6th Circuit issued its mandate on June 21, 2021, bringing the case to an end.

Case Library

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan - No. 1:19-cv-00614

• Complaint - 7/30/19
• Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction - 7/30/19
• Intervenor-Defendant's Answer and Affirmative Defenses - 8/29/19
• Motion to Consolidate - 9/11/19
• Order Granting Motion to Consolidate - 9/11/19
• Opinion - 11/25/19
• Opinion and Order - 7/6/20
• Judgment - 7/6/20

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit - No. 19-2377

• Correct Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellants - 1/2/20
• Brief for Defendant-Appellee - 2/3/20
• Brief of Defendant-Appellee - 2/3/20
• League of Women Voters Amicus Brief - 2/7/20
• Common Cause Amicus Brief - 2/10/20
• Reply Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellants - 2/13/20
• Opinion and Judgment Filed - 4/15/20
• Plaintiffs-Appellants Petition for Rehearing En Banc - 5/13/20
• Request for Response - 5/15/20
• Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's Response to Daunt Plaintiffs' Petition for Rehearing En Banc - 5/29/20
• Response to Defendant-Appellee Count MI Vote d/b/a Voters Not Politicians to Petition for Rehearing En Banc - 5/29/20
• Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's Response to Daunt Plaintiffs' Petition for Rehearing En Banc - 5/29/20
• Order - 6/19/20
• Mandate Issued - 6/29/20

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit - No. 20-1734 (together with Michigan Republican Party v. Benson)

• Case Docketed - 8/4/20
• Order - 9/21/20
• Opening Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellants - 11/12/20
• Brief of Defendant-Appellee Count MI Vote d/b/a Voters not Politicians - 12/14/20
• Brief for Defendant-Appellee Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson - 1/11/21
• Reply Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellants - 2/1/21
• Additional Citation - 2/17/21
• Opinion and Judgment - 5/27/21
• Mandate - 6/21/21