ELC IN NEWS
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A day after Wisconsin’s Supreme Court flipped to liberal control, this lawsuit challenging legislative maps was filed
MADISON, Wis. — Just one day after the ideological balance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped in favor of liberal-leaning justices, a lawsuit has been filed over the state’s legislative maps as progressive groups argue the boundaries are gerrymandered.
Supreme Court Lifts Temporary Halt on Federal Lawsuit Challenging Louisiana’s Discriminatory Congressional Map
The U.S. Supreme Court today lifted a temporary halt on a federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s discriminatory congressional map. The action sends the case, Robinson v. Ardoin, down to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for further consideration…In March 2022, the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, and individuals Press Robinson, Dorothy Nairne, E. René Soulé, Alice Washington, and Clee Ernest Lowe filed the lawsuit challenging the Louisiana congressional plan. The plaintiffs are represented by the Legal Defense Fund, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Louisiana, Harvard Election Law Clinic, Louisiana attorneys John Adcock and Tracie Washington, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
Ruling in Alabama case could boost suits increasing Black voters’ power in other states
And the Harvard Law professor Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a prominent redistricting expert, said in an email that Thursday’s ruling could make it harder for Republicans to wipe out a congressional district where Black voters have a chance to elect their preferred candidate in eastern North Carolina, which is set to conduct redistricting later this year.
Washington Supreme Court Upholds the State’s Voting Rights Act
As Ruth Greenwood, director of Harvard Law School’s Election Law Clinic — and counsel for amici curiae in support of the Latino voters — previously explained to Democracy Docket: “[State-level VRAs] are one of our best hopes, short of federal legislation, to fight back against the U.S. Supreme Court’s hostility to federal voting rights’ claims.”
ACLU’s Dale Ho Confirmed to New York-Based US District Court
“His career really reflects his dedication to the Constitution and its protections, and really, his entire legal practice has been dedicated to ensuring people’s rights to representation,” Theresa Lee, litigation director at the Harvard Election Law Clinic who worked with Ho at the ACLU Voting Rights Project.
Supreme Court’s Alabama ruling delivers Democrats an unexpected boost
Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a professor of election law at Harvard Law School, called the ruling “a truly, truly stunning development” and “the most unexpected voting rights development” in 30 years.
Surprise After Supreme Court Saves What’s Left of the Voting Rights Act
John Roberts began targeting the Voting Rights Act decades before he joined the U.S. Supreme Court, and as Chief Justice nearly a decade ago to the day, in Shelby County v Holder, he wrote for the majority to gut a centerpiece of the VRA known as Section 5. So when the court agreed to hear Allen v. Milligan this term, observers widely expected him to complete his project and kneecap what’s left of the landmark civil rights law.
Why the Supreme Court Declined an Opportunity to Diminish the Voting Rights Act
On Thursday, in a stunning 5–4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Alabama’s redistricting process had illegally diluted the power of Black voters. To talk about the decision and its implications, I spoke by phone with Ruth Greenwood, the director of the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School.
Federal judge accepts Jacksonville redistricting settlement, ending racial gerrymandering case
The federal racial gerrymandering case that upended the Jacksonville City Council’s district map, proving the city had segregated voters on the basis of race for decades, has finally ended.
From School Boards to City Councils, Local Redistricting Matters
Last week, two big cities saw updates in lawsuits challenging local council districts.
Jacksonville City Council approves redistricting settlement after racial gerrymandering ruling
After a year’s worth of losses in federal court about its district maps, the Jacksonville City Council approved a settlement with civil-rights activists Tuesday night. A federal judge will now consider whether to accept the settlement.
Jacksonville civil rights groups win redistricting lawsuit against city following federal ruling
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Following a settlement agreement, the City of Jacksonville will use a map drawn up by the Jacksonville NAACP, Northside Coalition, Florida Rising and other civil rights groups.
Jacksonville City Council to consider settlement in redistricting lawsuit
Eleven months, two stricken maps and over $200,000 in city money later, the Jacksonville redistricting case could be coming to a close.
City lawyer files legislation to settle Jacksonville City Council redistricting case
After fighting and losing again and again in its attempt to beat back a racial gerrymandering lawsuit, the Jacksonville City Council may finally be ready to throw in the towel and settle with civil-rights activists who successfully sued last year.
Census Bureau Will Release Files Sought by Harvard Law Clinic
The U.S. Census Bureau plans to release documents for academics to use to assess potential racial bias in redistricting, after the Harvard Law School’s Election Law Clinic requested the materials through the Freedom of Information Act, the agency announced March 27.
The U.S. Census Bureau plans to release documents for academics to use to assess potential racial bias in redistricting, after the Harvard Law School’s Election Law Clinic requested the materials through the Freedom of Information Act, the agency announced March 27.
Clinical Experiences with Electoral Count Act Reform and the Independent State Legislature Theory
The opportunity to work on both ECA reform and confronting the independent state legislature theory as part of my clinical experiences at HLS has allowed me to understand the real, on-the-ground impact of the doctrine I’ve learned in my classes. As these issues continue to develop, I look forward to seeing how the Democracy & Rule of Law and Election Law Clinics continue to work at the forefront of positive, pro-democracy change.
Several States Look To Pass Their Own Voting Rights Acts
In December 2021, Black voters and a handful of civic groups sued Baltimore County, Maryland under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The county had just completed redistricting with 2020 census data but the plaintiffs, including the Baltimore County NAACP, requested a map that better reflected the demographic changes of the past decade.
In December 2021, Black voters and a handful of civic groups sued Baltimore County, Maryland under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The county had just completed redistricting with 2020 census data but the plaintiffs, including the Baltimore County NAACP, requested a map that better reflected the demographic changes of the past decade.
Harvard Law School Clinic Represents Coalition Alleging Racial Gerrymandering in Jacksonville City Council Maps
Harvard Law School's Election Law Clinic is representing individuals and civil rights groups in a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville, alleging racial gerrymandering in election maps.
Harvard Law School's Election Law Clinic is representing individuals and civil rights groups in a lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville, alleging racial gerrymandering in election maps.
A matter of ‘life or death’
Harvard Law School’s Election Law Clinic partners with organizers in Jacksonville, Florida to score important victories for voting rights
Harvard Law School’s Election Law Clinic partners with organizers in Jacksonville, Florida to score important victories for voting rights
Florida city highlights conflicts over local gerrymandering
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Not far from the postcard images of Jacksonville -- the white sand beaches, the riverfront fountain, the upscale shopping district — is another side of the city.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Not far from the postcard images of Jacksonville -- the white sand beaches, the riverfront fountain, the upscale shopping district — is another side of the city.
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meetings, meetings, meetings! https://t.co/olHRtpNlMT -
Calling all rising @Harvard_Law 2/3Ls! Applications for the Election Law Clinic (Fall or Spring) are open! Due no l… https://t.co/2KwzdGlhjf
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RT @FLSdemocracy: Today in the #Forum: "Moore Cases, More Problems" by Aidan Calvelli, a clinical student in the @Harvard_Law… https://t.co/xfaMcUcpEI
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Join us this Friday! https://t.co/Wh1UqqkIFN