CASE SUMMARY

On June 28, 2022, a group of New York voters filed a lawsuit against the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission and its members alleging violations of the New York Constitution’s redistricting commission provision. After New York’s state courts struck down the congressional and state House redistricting plans drawn and enacted by the New York Legislature for failing to follow the state constitution’s redistricting commission procedures, petitioners filed this suit alleging the state’s redistricting commission violated its constitutional duty by failing to submit a second set of redistricting plan proposals to the Legislature. They sought a writ of mandamus requiring the commission to submit a second set of congressional and legislative plan proposals to the legislature for their consideration and allow lawful plans to be enacted prior to the 2022 election.

  • On September 12, 2022, the trial court dismissed the complaint on the grounds there was no enforceable remedy available to the petitioners under the state constitution. Petitioners appealed to the appellate division on October 17.
  • On July 13, 2023, the appellate division issued its decision ordering the redistricting commission to begin work on its second congressional redistricting plan proposal. Defendants soon after appealed to the New York Court of Appeals, triggering an automatic stay pending appeal. On September 19, 2023, the Court clarified that the automatic stay did not prohibit the commission from beginning its mapping work.
  • On November 15, 2023, the New York Court of Appeals held oral arguments.
  • On December 12, 2023, the Court of Appeals issued its decision affirming the appellate division’s decision and ordering the commission to submit its second congressional plan proposal to the Legislature by February 28, 2024.

Related Cases: Harkenrider v. Hochul; Nichols v. Hochul

CASE LIBRARY

Supreme Court of New York, Albany County - No. 904972-22

New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department - No. CV-22-2265

New York Court of Appeals - No. APL-2023-00121