ELC IN NEWS
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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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Protecting the right to vote in the Election Law Clinic
“I know the Election Law Clinic is an experience that I will be able to look back on and say, ‘this made me a better lawyer,’”
Court rejects Jacksonville's second appeal in ongoing redistricting case
In another triumph for the civil rights groups suing the city, a federal appeals court rejected Jacksonville’s motion to utilize the district map City Council approved in November for the upcoming March election.
Appeal fails to overturn Jacksonville’s court-ordered City Council map
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the city of Jacksonville’s attempt to stay a court-ordered council district map in the latest loss for the city.
Last-ditch Jacksonville redistricting appeal fails in 11th Circuit
With days to go before qualifying begins for Jacksonville’s 2023 elections, the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with a lower court, and denied a request for stay on the map installed last month.