Case Summary
Pursuant to Nevada's ballot initiative process, the organization Fair Maps Nevada successfully submitted an initiative measure that aimed to create an "independent" redistricting commission to draw "fair and competitive" electoral districts for placement on the 2020 ballot. On November 26, 2019, a registered Nevada voter filed suit against Fair Maps Nevada and Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske in Nevada's First Judicial District Court, asserting that the language describing the initiative and its effect were misleading and inaccurate. On January 2, 2020, the district court issued an order agreeing with the plaintiff and proceeded to rewrite the initiative's language itself.
On February 12, 2020, the plaintiff appealed the district court's order to the Nevada Supreme Court, arguing that the district court did not have the authority to rewrite the ballot initiative language on its own. Fair Maps Nevada subsequently filed a motion to dismiss and for sanctions on February 18, both of which the Nevada Supreme Court denied on March 26. The Nevada Supreme Court issued an order on July 24, 2020, affirming the district court's judgment and dismissing any remaining issues as moot.
Case Library
Supreme Court of Nevada - Case No. 80563
- Notice of Appeal - 2/5/20
- Motion to Dismiss and for Sanctions - 2/18/20
- Notice of Cross-Appeal - 2/18/20
- Appellant/Cross-Respondent's Opposition to Motion to Dismiss and for Sanctions - 2/26/20
- Respondent Secretary of State's Joinder in Support of Motion to Dismiss Appeal - 2/26/20
- Appellant/Cross-Respondent's Docketing Statement Civil Appeals - 2/26/20
- Notice of Withdrawal of Joinder in Support of Motion to Dismiss Appeal - 2/28/20
- Respondent/Cross-Appellant's Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss and for Sanctions - 3/3/20
- Respondent/Cross-Appellant's Docketing Statement Civil Appeals - 3/13/20
- Order Denying Motion - 3/26/20
- Appellant/Cross-Respondent's Opening Brief - 3/27/20
- Joint Appendix - 3/27/20
- Appellant/Cross-Respondent's Motion to Expedite Appeal - 3/27/20
- Cross-Appellant's Motion to Expedite Appeal - 4/6/20
- Cross-Appellant's Answering Brief on Appeal and Opening Brief on Cross-Appeal - 4/6/20
- Order Granting Motions - 4/15/20
- Appellant/Cross-Respondent's Combined Reply Brief and Answering Brief on Cross-Appeal - 4/22/20
- Respondent/Cross-Appellant's Reply Brief on Cross-Appeal - 4/29/20
- Order of Affirmance - 7/24/20
- Remittitur - 9/4/20