Filed Date: April 14, 2021
Case Ongoing
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This is a case about alleged violations of the Voting Rights Act by the city of West Monroe in their election process for the Board of Alderman. On April 14, 2021, the United States filed this lawsuit in the Western District of Louisiana against the city of West Monroe under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, 52 USC § 10301. The United States Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division sought declaratory relief through a court order declaring that the current method of electing West Monroe's Board of Alderman violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, as well as an order that would require the city to devise and implement an electoral system that would comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The case was assigned to Judge Terry A. Doughty and Magistrate Judge Kayla D. McClusky.
The DOJ claimed that the city had violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by holding an at-large election for all five members of the West Monroe Board of Alderman. Under the election procedure, voters cast votes for all five members and the top five candidates receiving the most votes were elected. The DOJ alleged that although the population of West Monroe was approximately 34% Black, the Black population in West Monroe was sufficiently large and geographically compact enough to constitute a majority of the voting-age population in a single-member district if the city were to use a five-district plan. The DOJ further alleged that Black voters were politically cohesive, but that the preferred candidates of Black voters were consistently defeated by a voting bloc of the white population. In addition, no Black candidate had ever been elected to the West Monroe Board of Alderman. Importantly, the complaint asserted that Ouachita Parish, including West Monroe, had a history of official discrimination against Black voters. The DOJ argued that under a totality of the circumstances the city had violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by providing Black citizens less opportunity than other voters to elect representatives of their choice and participate in the political process.
On April 14, 2021, the parties filed a joint motion for entry of consent judgment and decree, which the court ordered the next day. In the consent decree the city agreed to implement a mixed method of election. Under the plan, the city would be divided into three election districts, each of which would elect one member of the Board of Alderman, while two members would continue to be elected at-large. The consent decree expires in 2030.
Summary Authors
Rhea Sharma (10/24/2022)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59821429/parties/united-states-v-west-monroe/
Brown, Shannon Thornhill (Louisiana)
Freeman, Daniel J (Louisiana)
Richardson, Jasmyn Gabrielle (Louisiana)
Caldwell, Douglas C (Louisiana)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59821429/united-states-v-west-monroe/
Last updated April 8, 2024, 3:10 a.m.
State / Territory: Louisiana
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 14, 2021
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
West Monroe (West Monroe, Ouachita), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 2021 - 2030
Issues
Voting:
Challenges to at-large/multimember district/election
Discrimination-basis:
Race: