CASE SUMMARY

On February 19, 2021, several Minnesota voters filed a state lawsuit challenging the state’s then-existing congressional and legislative redistricting plans, enacted following the 2010 Census, as malapportioned in violation of the one person, one vote requirements under Article I, § 2 of, and the 14th Amendment to, the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Michigan Constitution. Plaintiffs alleged the Governor and State Legislature would be unable to agree on lawful plans in time for the impending 2022 elections and, therefore, sought a declaratory judgment the plans were unconstitutional and an injunction barring the state from holding future elections under new, properly apportioned plans were enacted or adopted.

  • On April 27, 2021, the plaintiffs in a similar malapportionment challenge to the state’s congressional and legislative plans, Sachs v. Simon, filed a petition asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to assume jurisdiction over their case and consolidate it with this case. The Court granted the petition and consolidated the cases before it on May 20, 2021.
  • On March 22, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court granted the plaintiffs’ request to appoint a special redistricting panel but ordered the case be stayed until it was determined that judicial intervention would be necessary to ensure valid plans were in place for the 2022 elections.
  • On June 30, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court lifted its stay and formally appointed the special redistricting panel to handle the case.
  • On February 15, 2022, the special redistricting panel issued orders enjoining the state’s congressional and legislative plans from further use and adopting its own congressional and legislative plans for use in future elections.

Related Case: Sachs v. Simon

CASE LIBRARY

Minnesota District Court, Carver County - No. 10-cv-21-127

Minnesota Supreme Court - No. A21-0243 [together with Sachs v. Simon, No. A21-0546]