CASE SUMMARY
On November 2, 2022, a group of Massachusetts voters filed a lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court seeking to block the Boston City Council from approving a new redistricting plan based on alleged violations of state Open Meeting Laws.
- After their request for a temporary restraining order was denied, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on November 12, 2022, alleging the Council’s approved plan diluted Black voters’ voting strength in violation of § 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act and was racially gerrymandered in violation of the 14th Amendment. They sought a preliminary injunction barring the plan from use in future elections.
- On December 2, 2022, the Boston City Council removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
- On May 8, 2023, following a hearing, the federal district court preliminarily enjoined the plan after finding the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their racial gerrymandering claim.
- On May 24, 2023, the City Council approved a new redistricting plan which was signed into law two days later. On October 19, 2023, the district court dismissed the case after the parties jointly agreed to settle the lawsuit.
CASE LIBRARY
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk Superior Court - No. 2284CV2490 H
- Case History - 12/2/22
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts - No. 1:22-cv-12048
- Notice of Removal - 12/2/22
- Assented-To Motion to Extend Time to Respond to Complaint - 12/8/22
- Notice of Motions Pending in State Court - 12/13/22
- Joint Motion to Establish Briefing Schedule and Expand Page Limit for Opposition to Preliminary Injunction - 1/11/23
- Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction - 1/12/23
- Joint Motion to Establish Briefing Schedule and Expand Page Limit for Opposition to Preliminary Injunction - 1/13/23
- Defendant Boston City Council's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction - 1/17/23
- Rule 16 Joint Statement - 1/20/23
- Plaintiffs' Reply to Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction - 1/27/23
- Brief of Amici Curiae The NAACP Boston Branch, et.al. in Support of Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction - 2/16/23
- Motion for Clarification of Scheduling Order Deadlines - 2/17/23
- Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Clarification of Scheduling Order Deadlines - 2/21/23
- Assented-to Motion for Leave to File Sur-Reply in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction - 2/21/23
- Defendant Boston City Council's Sur-Reply in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction - 2/23/23
- Second Amended Complaint - 2/27/23
- Plaintiffs' List of Witnesses - 3/7/23
- Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to File Their Second Amended Complaint - 3/10/23
- Joint List of Witnesses - 3/10/23
- Assented-To Motion for Leave to File Their Second Amended Complaint - 3/14/23
- City Defendants' Supplemental Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction Following Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint - 3/27/23
- Memorandum and Order - 5/8/23
- Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/17/23
- Memorandum in Support of Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/17/23
- City's Response to the Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/23/23
- Plaintiffs' Opposition to the Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/24/23
- Chinese Progressive Association's Notice of Voluntary Withdrawal as a Proposed Intervenor - 6/5/23
- Motion by the NAACP Boston Branch, Et al. for Leave to File a Reply Brief - 6/5/23
- Letter to Judge Saris re: Boston Redistricting - 6/13/23
- Letter to Judge Saris from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute - 6/16/23
- Joint Status Report - 7/14/23
- "The Schedule is Approved" - 7/18/23
- Joint Request for Extension of Time - 7/26/23
- Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Attorneys' Fees, Costs, and Expenses - 8/18/23
- Settlement Order of Dismissal - 10/19/23