CASE SUMMARY
On March 14, 2022, a coalition of voting and civil rights organizations and Louisiana voters filed a federal lawsuit against Louisiana's Secretary of State challenging the state's enacted state Senate and state House redistricting plans as violating the federal Voting Rights Act. Specifically, plaintiffs assert the plans result in the dilution of Black voters' voting strength in violation of Section 2 of the VRA, citing several different regions of the state where additional majority-Black Senate and House districts could have been drawn. They are seeking a judicial declaration that the enacted legislative plans violate the VRA, a permanent injunction barring the defendant from using the plans in future elections, and a court order establishing a reasonable deadline for the state to enact VRA-compliant legislative plans or for the court to do so in the event the state fails to do so in a timely manner.
On April 12, 2022 this case was consolidated with two other challenges to Louisiana's redistricting plans, Robinson v. Ardoin and Galmon v. Ardoin. On August 30, 2022, the district court granted a motion to stay the case pending the U.S. Supreme Court's resolution of Merrill v. Milligan.
Related Cases: Robinson v. Ardoin, Galmon v. Ardoin
CASE LIBRARY
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana - No. 3:22-cv-178 [together with Nos. 3:22-cv-211, 3:22-cv-214]
- Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief - 3/14/22
- Scheduling Conference Order - 3/25/22
- Motion of the Presiding Officers of the Louisiana Legislature to Intervene - 4/4/22
- Amended Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief - 4/4/22
- Order - 4/12/22
- Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Amended Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief and Request for Three Judge Panel - 4/18/22
- The State of Louisiana's Motion to Intervene - 4/19/22
- Motion to Convene Three-Judge Court or, in the Alternative, to Certify an Interlocutory Appeal - 4/22/22
- Opposition to Motion to Intervene of the State of Louisiana by Attorney General Jeff Landry - 5/2/22
- Response in Opposition to the Defendants' Motion to Convene a Three-Judge Panel or, in the Alternative, to Certify an Interlocutory Appeal - 5/8/22
- Motion to Move the Scheduling Conference to an Earlier Date - 5/13/22
- Order Granting Intervention - 5/17/22
- Answer of Intervenors to Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief - 5/17/22
- Original Answer to Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint and Affirmative Defenses by Defendant-Intervenor, State of Louisiana, Through Attorney General Jeff Landry - 5/17/22
- Motion for Expedited Consideration - 5/18/22
- Order - 5/19/22
- Answer of Legislative Intervenors to Amended Complaint - 5/20/22
- Status Report - 6/9/22
- Joint Motion to Stay Proceedings - 7/18/22
- Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Stay Proceedings - 8/8/22
- Exhibit List to Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Stay Proceedings - 8/10/22
- Plaintiffs' Motion for Status Conference - 8/11/22
- Legislative Intervenors' Memorandum in Response to Plaintiffs' Motion for Status Conference - 8/12/22
- Motion for Leave to File Reply - 8/15/22
- Consent Motion to Modify the Scheduling Order - 8/19/22
- Reply in Support of Joint Motion to Stay Proceedings - 8/22/22
- Scheduling Order - 8/23/22
- Order of Administrative Closure - 9/1/22