CASE SUMMARY

On June 28, 2021, a Virginia voter filed a federal lawsuit against Virginia’s Governor, Department of Elections, State Board of Elections, and various state officials challenging the state’s plan to use the state’s 2010-cycle legislative redistricting plans for the 2021 elections as violating the one person, one vote constitutional requirement. Citing a relevant 1981 Virginia federal court decision as precedent, plaintiff asked the court to declare the state’s legislative redistricting plans unconstitutional and issue an order limiting 2021-elected delegates to one-year terms and requiring a special election for the Virginia General Assembly be held concurrently with the 2022 general election.

  • On October 12, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed the claims against the Governor and State Board of Elections as barred by sovereign immunity. The remaining defendants appealed this ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit six days later.
  • On March 15, 2022, the Fourth Circuit remanded the case back to the district court to determine whether the plaintiff had Article III standing to pursue his claims.
  • On June 6, 2022, the district court dismissed the case, finding plaintiff lacked standing. Plaintiff appealed to the Fourth Circuit on June 21, 2022, which affirmed the dismissal on July 21, 2022.

CASE LIBRARY

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division - No. 3:21-cv-420 [formerly Goldman v. Northam]

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit - No 21-2180 [interlocutory appeal]

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division - No. 3:21-cv-420 [on remand]

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit - No. 22-1682