CASE SUMMARY
On January 12, 2022, the current U.S. Representative for Texas's 16th Congressional District (El Paso) filed a federal lawsuit against Texas's Governor and Secretary of State, challenging the state's enacted congressional plan as violating the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act. The plaintiff challenges the defendants' configuration of Congressional Districts 16 and 23, specifically the decision to move Fort Bliss from CD 16 to CD 23, which she alleges was motivated by an intent to discriminate against Latino voters in violation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. She also alleges that this change results in the dilution of Latino voting strength in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Plaintiff is seeking a declaratory judgment that the enacted congressional plan is unconstitutional and unlawful and a preliminary and permanent injunction barring the defendants from using the plan in future elections.
On January 13, 2022, the district court consolidated this case with several other pending challenges to Texas redistricting plans: League of United Latin American Citizens v. Abbott;Wilson v. Texas; Voto Latino v. Scott; Mexican Am. Legislative Caucus v. Texas; Brooks v. Abbott; Fair Maps Texas Action Comm. v. Abbott; & Texas State Conf. of the NAACP v. Abbott; United States v. Texas and Fischer v. Scott.
On June 23, 2022, the court granted the plaintiff's voluntary dismissal of their claims, thereby ending the case.
CASE LIBRARY
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division - No. 3:22-cv-22 [consolidated with 3:21-cv-259, 1:21-cv-943, 1:21-cv-965, 1:21-cv-988, 1:21-cv-991, 1:21-cv-1006, 1:21-cv-1038, 3:21-cv-299, & 3:21-cv-306]
- Complaint - 1/12/22
- Order Constituting Three-Judge Court - 1/13/22
- Order Dismissing Claims - 6/23/22