CASE SUMMARY

On March 23, 2022, a group of Michigan voters filed a federal lawsuit against Michigan’s Secretary of State, its Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, and the Commission’s members challenging the state’s adopted legislative redistricting plans as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders and diluting Black voters’ voting strength in violation of Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act (“VRA”). They sought a judicial declaration the plans are unconstitutional and unlawful, a court order requiring the State to adopt remedial plans, and, if necessary, for the court to appoint a special master to draw remedial plans if the State failed to do so.

  • A bench trial was held from November 1 to November 8, 2023.
  • On December 21, 2023, the district court struck down the legislative plans as a racial gerrymander in violation of the 14th Amendment. The defendants filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and requested a stay pending appeal from the district court on January 4, 2024.
  • The district court held a remedial hearing on January 5, 2024, and denied the defendants’ request for a stay on January 8.
  • The defendants filed their application for a stay with the U.S. Supreme Court on January 9, 2024.
  • On January 11, the court ordered the Commission to adopt and submit its remedial state House plan to the court by March 1, 2024, appointed special masters to review the submitted plan and draft their own if necessary, and established a March 29, 2024, deadline for final approval of a remedial state House plan. Thereafter, the parties would meet and confer by April 12 to determine a timeline for a remedial state Senate plan.
  • The Commission adopted a new state house plan on time.

Similar Case: Banerian v. Benson

CASE LIBRARY

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division - No. 1:22-cv-272

Supreme Court of the United States - No. 23A641

Agee v. Benson
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