CASE SUMMARY

On November 2, 2022, plaintiffs brought a lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court's Civil Department seeking to block the Boston City Council from approving a new redistricting plan due to the City Council's alleged Open Meeting Law violations. The motion for a Temporary Restraining Order was denied. Plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint on November 12, 2022, alleging violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fourteenth Amendment and requested a preliminary injunction. The Boston City Council removed the case to federal court on December 2, 2022.

Following a trial, the Boston City Council was enjoined from using the enacted map in future municipal elections.

CASE LIBRARY

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Suffolk Superior Court - No. 2284CV2490 H

• Case History - 12/2/22

U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts - No. 1:22-cv-12048

• Notice of Removal - 12/2/22
• Assented-To Motion to Extend Time to Respond to Complaint - 12/8/22
• Notice of Motions Pending in State Court - 12/13/22
• Joint Motion to Establish Briefing Schedule and Expand Page Limit for Opposition to Preliminary Injunction - 1/11/23
• Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction - 1/12/23
• Joint Motion to Establish Briefing Schedule and Expand Page Limit for Opposition to Preliminary Injunction - 1/13/23
• Defendant Boston City Council's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction - 1/17/23
• Rule 16 Joint Statement - 1/20/23
• Plaintiffs' Reply to Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction - 1/27/23
• Brief of Amici Curiae The NAACP Boston Branch, et.al. in Support of Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction - 2/16/23
• Motion for Clarification of Scheduling Order Deadlines - 2/17/23
• Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Clarification of Scheduling Order Deadlines - 2/21/23
• Assented-to Motion for Leave to File Sur-Reply in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction - 2/21/23
• Defendant Boston City Council's Sur-Reply in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction - 2/23/23
• Second Amended Complaint - 2/27/23
• Plaintiffs' List of Witnesses - 3/7/23
• Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to File Their Second Amended Complaint - 3/10/23
• Joint List of Witnesses - 3/10/23
• Assented-To Motion for Leave to File Their Second Amended Complaint - 3/14/23
• City Defendants' Supplemental Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction Following Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint - 3/27/23
• Memorandum and Order - 5/8/23
• Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/17/23
• Memorandum in Support of Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/17/23
• City's Response to the Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/23/23
• Plaintiffs' Opposition to the Motion by Proposed Intervenors to Intervene - 5/24/23
• Chinese Progressive Association's Notice of Voluntary Withdrawal as a Proposed Intervenor - 6/5/23
• Motion by the NAACP Boston Branch, Et al. for Leave to File a Reply Brief - 6/5/23
• Letter to Judge Saris re: Boston Redistricting - 6/13/23
• Letter to Judge Saris from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute - 6/16/23
• Joint Status Report - 7/14/23
• "The Schedule is Approved" - 7/18/23
• Joint Request for Extension of Time - 7/26/23
• Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Attorneys' Fees, Costs, and Expenses - 8/18/23
• Settlement Order of Dismissal - 10/19/23