Case Summary
On June 13, 2018, a group of Louisiana voters filed a federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s congressional redistricting plan, enacted in 2011, as diluting Black voters’ voting strength in violation of § 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act (“VRA”). They sought a judicial declaration the map was unconstitutional, an injunction barring its use in future elections, and a court order requiring the state to enact a new plan containing an additional majority-minority district.
- October 7, 2019, Louisiana’s Secretary of State filed a third-party complaint against the U.S. Department of Justice, citing their grant of preclearance to the challenged plan under § 5 of the VRA.
- On October 17, 2019, the district court stayed the case while the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit considered a case involving similar issues. The stay was lifted on September 29, 2020.
- On October 13, 2020, the case was dismissed upon joint stipulation of the parties.
Case Library
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana - 3:18-cv-00625
- Complaint - 6/13/18
- Motion to Dismiss - 7/31/18
- Joint Status Report - 8/9/18
- Amended Complaint - 8/21/18
- Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint - 9/10/18
- Memorandum in Support of Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' First Amendment Complaint - 9/10/18
- Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Second Motion to Dismiss - 10/12/18
- Order - 3/12/19
- Order - 5/10/19
- Ruling on the Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint - 5/31/19
- Ruling on Motion to Expedite - 8/28/19
- Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief - 9/4/19
- Defendant's Response to Plaintiffs' Notice of Additional Authority - 9/10/19
- Ruling on the Motion for Certification of Order for Interlocutory Appeal - 9/12/19
- Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's Denial of his Motion to Dismiss Amended Complaint - 9/16/19
- Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Support of Motion to Compel Discovery - 9/18/19
- Original Answer to Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint and Affirmative Defenses - 9/23/19
- Defendant Secretary of State's Motion to Stay - 9/25/19
- Third Party Complaint - 10/7/19
- Plaintiff's Response in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration - 10/7/19
- Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Stay - 10/16/19
- Memorandum in Support of Motion by Attorney General and Department of Justice to Dismiss Third-Party Complaint - 12/9/19
- Motion to Dismiss Exhibit 4 - 12/9/19
- Ruling on Motion for Reconsideration - 4/22/20
- Order - 9/29/20
- Joint Stipulation of Dismissal - 10/8/20
- Final Judgment - 10/13/20
- General Order - 10/13/20