CASE SUMMARY

On March 15, 2022 a coalition of Louisiana voters and civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit against Louisiana's Secretary of State challenging the state's lack of a new congressional redistricting plan as violating the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs allege the state's congressional redistricting plan from the previous decade has since become unconstitutionally malapportioned due to population shifts in violation of the one person, one vote requirement under Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Next, plaintiffs allege due to an impasse between Louisiana's state legislature and governor, the state will be unable to enact a new, properly apportioned congressional plan in time for the 2022 elections and holding the elections under the prior decade's malapportioned plan will cause voters in overpopulated districts to have their voting strength diluted. They are seeking a judicial declaration that the state's 2010-cycle congressional districting plan violates the U.S. Constitution, an injunction barring the defendant from using the plan in future elections, and a court order adopting or implementing, or appointing a special master to adopt and implement, a new congressional plan that complies with the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act, including at least two majority-Black districts.

The case was mooted along with Bullman v. Ardoin when the legislature overrode Governor Edwards' veto.

Similar Case: Bullman v. Ardoin

CASE LIBRARY

Louisiana District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge - No. C-716837