Case: OCA-Greater Houston v. Esparza

1:21-cv-00780 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Filed Date: Sept. 3, 2021

Closed Date: Sept. 30, 2021

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This lawsuit was filed on September 3, 2021 on behalf of OCA-Greater Houston, League of Women Voters of Texas, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project and Workers Defense Action Fund challenging the state’s voter suppression legislation, Senate Bill 1. Disability Rights Texas, the state's protection and advocacy agency, served as one of the plaintiffs' attorneys. The suit challenged multiple provisions of S.B. 1: strict ID requirements for mail-in ballots, a restriction on providing assistance to…

This lawsuit was filed on September 3, 2021 on behalf of OCA-Greater Houston, League of Women Voters of Texas, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project and Workers Defense Action Fund challenging the state’s voter suppression legislation, Senate Bill 1. Disability Rights Texas, the state's protection and advocacy agency, served as one of the plaintiffs' attorneys. The suit challenged multiple provisions of S.B. 1: strict ID requirements for mail-in ballots, a restriction on providing assistance to voters who need help completing or returning their ballots and ballot collection ban. Plaintiffs argued that those provisions violated the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the First and Fourteenth Amendments by intentionally making it difficult for voters of color, voters with limited English proficiencies and voters with disabilities to cast a ballot. The case was assigned to Judge Robert Pitman and then reassigned to Judge Xavier Rodriguez.

On September 30, 2021, this case was consolidated with La Union del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott, No. 5:21-cv-844 (W.D. Tex.), and closed. 

Summary Authors

NDRN (7/28/2023)

Related Cases

La Union Del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott, Western District of Texas (2021)

Houston Justice v. Gregory Wayne Abbott, Western District of Texas (2021)

LULAC Texas v. Esparza, Western District of Texas (2021)

Houston Justice v. Abbott, Western District of Texas (2021)

Mi Familia Vota v. Abbott, Western District of Texas (2021)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60362804/parties/oca-greater-houston-v-jose-a-esparza/


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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:21-cv-00780

Plaintiffs' Original Complaint

OCA-Greater Houston v. Texas Secretary of State

Sept. 3, 2021

Sept. 3, 2021

Complaint
20

1:21-cv-00780

Order

Sept. 30, 2021

Sept. 30, 2021

Order/Opinion
19

1:21-cv-00780

Order

Sept. 30, 2021

Sept. 30, 2021

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60362804/oca-greater-houston-v-jose-a-esparza/

Last updated Aug. 18, 2025, 1:02 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number 0542-15189245). No Summons requested at this time, filed by REVUP-Texas, League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - SB1, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/03/2021)

1 Exhibit Exhibit A - SB1

View on PACER

2 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Sept. 3, 2021

Sept. 3, 2021

Clearinghouse

Case assigned to Judge Robert Pitman. CM WILL NOW REFLECT THE JUDGE INITIALS AS PART OF THE CASE NUMBER. PLEASE APPEND THESE JUDGE INITIALS TO THE CASE NUMBER ON EACH DOCUMENT THAT YOU FILE IN THIS CASE. (dl)

Sept. 3, 2021

Sept. 3, 2021

PACER

If ordered by the court, all referrals and consents in this case will be assigned to Magistrate Judge Lane. (dl)

Sept. 3, 2021

Sept. 3, 2021

PACER
2

Pro Hac Vice Letters mailed to Savannah Kumar, Adriel I. Cepeda Derieux,Sophia Lin Lakin, Samantha Osaki, Susan Mizner, Jerry Vattamala, Susana Lorenzo-Giguere, Jessica Ring Amunson andUrja Mittal. (dl) (Entered: 09/03/2021)

Sept. 3, 2021

Sept. 3, 2021

RECAP

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Sept. 3, 2021

Sept. 3, 2021

PACER

To be Referred to AU Mag Judge

Sept. 3, 2021

Sept. 3, 2021

PACER
3

NOTICE of Filing Partially-Opposed Motion to Consolidate in Case No. 5:21-cv-844 by Jose A. Esparza, Ken Paxton (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Sweeten, Patrick) (Entered: 09/14/2021)

1 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

Sept. 14, 2021

Sept. 14, 2021

RECAP
4

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Ryan V. Cox for Jerry Vattamala ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15225065) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/15/2021)

1 Proposed Order

View on RECAP

Sept. 15, 2021

Sept. 15, 2021

RECAP
5

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Ryan V. Cox for Susana Lorenzo-Giguere ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15225297) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/15/2021)

1 Proposed Order

View on RECAP

Sept. 15, 2021

Sept. 15, 2021

RECAP
6

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Ryan V. Cox for Jessica Amunson ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15225363) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/15/2021)

1 Proposed Order

View on RECAP

Sept. 15, 2021

Sept. 15, 2021

RECAP
7

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Ryan V. Cox for Urja Mittal ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15225396) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/15/2021)

1 Proposed Order

View on RECAP

Sept. 15, 2021

Sept. 15, 2021

RECAP
8

ORDER REASSIGNING CASE. Case reassigned to Judge Xavier Rodriguez for all proceedings. Judge Robert Pitman no longer assigned to case. Signed by Judge Robert Pitman. (dm) (Entered: 09/15/2021)

Sept. 15, 2021

Sept. 15, 2021

RECAP
9

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Thomas Paul Buser-Clancy for Savannah Kumar ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15229731) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Buser-Clancy, Thomas) (Entered: 09/16/2021)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

RECAP
10

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Thomas Paul Buser-Clancy for Adriel Cepeda-Derieux ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15229732) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Buser-Clancy, Thomas) (Entered: 09/16/2021)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

RECAP
11

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Thomas Paul Buser-Clancy for Sophia Lin Lakin ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15229733) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Buser-Clancy, Thomas) (Entered: 09/16/2021)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

RECAP
12

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Thomas Paul Buser-Clancy for Samantha Osaki ( Filing fee $ 100 receipt number 0542-15229734) by on behalf of League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, REVUP-Texas, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund. (Buser-Clancy, Thomas) (Entered: 09/16/2021)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

RECAP

Text Order GRANTING 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Text Order GRANTING 5 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Text Order GRANTING 6 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Text Order GRANTING 7 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Text Order GRANTING 9 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Text Order GRANTING 10 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Text Order GRANTING 11 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Text Order GRANTING 12 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. Pursuant to our Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing, the attorney hereby granted to practice pro hac vice in this case must register for electronic filing with our court within 10 days of this order. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (ldox)

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER

Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Sept. 16, 2021

Sept. 16, 2021

PACER
13

Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by Jose A. Esparza, Ken Paxton. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(White, Jeffrey) (Entered: 09/21/2021)

1 Proposed Order

View on PACER

Sept. 21, 2021

Sept. 21, 2021

RECAP
14

NOTICE Regarding Pending Motion to Consolidate by Jose A. Esparza, Ken Paxton (White, Jeffrey) (Entered: 09/21/2021)

Sept. 21, 2021

Sept. 21, 2021

RECAP

Text Order GRANTING 13 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer entered by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (JA3)

Sept. 22, 2021

Sept. 22, 2021

PACER
15

WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by REVUP-Texas, League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund as to Jose A. Esparza. Waiver sent on 9/15/2021, answer due 11/15/2021. (Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/22/2021)

Sept. 22, 2021

Sept. 22, 2021

RECAP
16

WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by REVUP-Texas, League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund as to Ken Paxton. Waiver sent on 9/15/2021, answer due 11/15/2021. (Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/22/2021)

Sept. 22, 2021

Sept. 22, 2021

RECAP
17

WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by REVUP-Texas, League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund as to Dana DeBeauvoir. Waiver sent on 9/15/2021, answer due 11/15/2021. (Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/22/2021)

Sept. 22, 2021

Sept. 22, 2021

RECAP

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

Sept. 22, 2021

Sept. 22, 2021

PACER
18

WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by REVUP-Texas, League of Women Voters of Texas, OCA-Greater Houston, Texas Organizing Project, Workers Defense Action Fund as to Isabel Longoria. Waiver sent on 9/15/2021, answer due 11/15/2021. (Cox, Ryan) (Entered: 09/29/2021)

Sept. 29, 2021

Sept. 29, 2021

RECAP
19

ORDER on Defendants Motion to Consolidate is GRANTED. It is ORDERED that all future filings be filed in La Unin del Pueblo Entero v. Abbott, No. 5:21-cv-844 (W.D. Tex.). Signed by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. (cc3) (Entered: 09/30/2021)

Sept. 30, 2021

Sept. 30, 2021

RECAP
20

ORDER CLOSING CASE Signed by Judge Xavier Rodriguez. (cc3) (Entered: 09/30/2021)

Sept. 30, 2021

Sept. 30, 2021

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Election/Voting Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 3, 2021

Closing Date: Sept. 30, 2021

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Non profit organizations

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations

Asian American Legal Defense & Educ. Fund (AALDEF)

ACLU Affiliates (any)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Texas Secretary of State, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Civil Rights Act of 1957/1960, 52 U.S.C. § 10101 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1971)

Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701

Voting Rights Act, section 5, 52 U.S.C. § 10304 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973c)

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Disability and Disability Rights:

Disability, unspecified

Voting:

Voting: General & Misc.

Voting: Physical/Effective Access