Case Summary
On April 26, 2021, a group of Louisiana voters filed a lawsuit against Louisiana’s Secretary of State challenging the state’s congressional redistricting plan, which was enacted the prior decade, as unconstitutionally malapportioned in violation of the one person, one vote requirement under Article I, § 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Plaintiffs also alleged the Governor and state legislature would be unable to enact a new plan in time for the 2022 elections, thereby violating the U.S. Constitution and Louisiana Constitution. They sought a judicial declaration that the congressional plan was unconstitutional, an injunction barring its use in future elections, and an order setting a schedule for the state to adopt and implement a new plan or for the court to do so if the state failed to.
- On November 16, 2021, the New Orleans Parish District Court denied the Secretary of State’s request to dismiss the action based on improper venue, lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and failure to state a cause or right of action. The court denied a second request to dismiss on December 10, 2021, which the Secretary appealed to Louisiana’s Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.
- On February 2, 2022, the Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s decision as to the right of action but reversed as to the improper venue ruling and dismissed the case, citing a state law which required challenges to official conduct by state officers, like this case, to be filed in the East Baton Rouge Parish.
Case Library
Louisiana District Court, Parish of New Orleans - No. 2021-03538
- Petition for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief - 4/26/21
- First Amended and Supplemental Petition for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief - 8/19/21
Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit - No. 2021-C-739
- Opinion and Judgment - 2/2/22