Case: United States v. County of Riverside

2:10-cv-01059 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: Feb. 10, 2010

Closed Date: April 9, 2013

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Case Summary

This is a case about the protection of voting rights of Spanish-speakers in Riverside County, California, who had limited English proficiency. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed this action against Riverside County in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on February 10, 2010. The government alleged violations of Section 4(e) of the Voting Rights Act because the county had not provided the necessary Spanish language information regarding registration, b…

This is a case about the protection of voting rights of Spanish-speakers in Riverside County, California, who had limited English proficiency. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed this action against Riverside County in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on February 10, 2010. The government alleged violations of Section 4(e) of the Voting Rights Act because the county had not provided the necessary Spanish language information regarding registration, ballots, or other electoral processes. As such, the government sought declaratory and injunctive relief. Judge S. James Otero initially presided over the case.

On February 12, 2010, the parties had reached an initial agreement. The agreement requested that the court appoint federal observers to oversee elections in Riverside County through March 31, 2013. The county agreed to provide materials regarding elections in Spanish and to hire bilingual poll workers to meet the requirements of Section 203. The county also agreed to evaluate the Spanish language program after each election to determine whether they were in compliance. The DOJ agreed that if the county met all of their obligations under the Voting Rights Act, they would move to dismiss their complaint by March 31, 2013.

On March 9, 2010, the district court convened a three-judge court pursuant to the parties’ joint application. Judges Richard C. Tallman, Jacqueline Nguyen, and S. James Otero were thus appointed to oversee the case.

In an order on April 30, 2010, the three-judge panel granted the joint motion to appoint federal observers and extended the time for the defendant to respond to the complaint to March 31, 2013. After each election, the DOJ filed the reports generated by the appointed federal observers. On April 8, 2013, the DOJ notified the court that the county had met their obligations under the agreement and filed a notification of voluntary dismissal. The court dismissed the case on April 9, 2013.

Summary Authors

Claire Butler (12/30/2022)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59911113/parties/united-states-v-county-of-riverside/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Cardona, George S (California)

Gregory, Amanda Elizabeth (California)

Jr, T Christian (California)

Marchand, Michele C (California)

Popper, Robert D (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:10-cv-01059

Complaint Alleging Violations of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act

Feb. 12, 2010

Feb. 12, 2010

Complaint
3

2:10-cv-01059

Joint Stipulation to Extend Time to Answer and Appoint Federal Observers

Feb. 12, 2010

Feb. 12, 2010

Pleading / Motion / Brief
21

2:10-cv-01059

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i)

April 8, 2013

April 8, 2013

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59911113/united-states-v-county-of-riverside/

Last updated March 9, 2024, 3:04 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Defendants County of Riverside, Barbara Dunmore, The Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Case assigned to Judge S. James Otero for all further proceedings. Discovery referred to Magistrate Judge Oswald Parada.(Filing fee $ 350 NO FEE REQUIRED), filed by plaintiff United States of America.(car) (ds). (Additional attachment(s) added on 2/19/2010: # 1 Summons) (ds). (Entered: 02/17/2010)

Feb. 12, 2010

Feb. 12, 2010

Clearinghouse

21 DAY Summons Issued re Complaint - (Discovery), 1 as to Defendants County of Riverside, Barbara Dunmore, The Riverside County Board of Supervisors. (car)

Feb. 12, 2010

Feb. 12, 2010

PACER
2

NOTICE TO PARTIES OF ADR PILOT PROGRAM filed.(car) (Entered: 02/17/2010)

Feb. 12, 2010

Feb. 12, 2010

PACER
3

JOINT STIPULATION for Extension of Time to File Answer 1 appoint federal observers filed by plaintiff United States of America. Lodged order. (lc) (Entered: 02/17/2010)

Feb. 12, 2010

Feb. 12, 2010

Clearinghouse
4

JOINT APPLICATION FOR A DISTRICT COURT OF THREE JUDGES filed by plaintiff United States of America. Lodged order. (lc) (Entered: 02/17/2010)

Feb. 17, 2010

Feb. 17, 2010

PACER
5

WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed filed by plaintiff United States of America. upon County of Riverside waiver sent by Plaintiff on 2/17/2010, answer due 4/18/2010; Barbara Dunmore waiver sent by Plaintiff on 2/17/2010, answer due 4/18/2010; The Riverside County Board of Supervisors waiver sent by Plaintiff on 2/17/2010, answer due 4/18/2010. Waiver of Service signed by Dana Smith, Deputy County Counsel. (Gregory, Amanda) (Entered: 02/23/2010)

Feb. 23, 2010

Feb. 23, 2010

PACER
6

NOTICE OF FILING OF WAIVER OF SERVICE OF SUMMONS filed by plaintiff United States of America. (Gregory, Amanda) (Entered: 02/23/2010)

Feb. 23, 2010

Feb. 23, 2010

PACER
7

INITIAL STANDING ORDER FOR CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE S. JAMES OTERO by Judge S. James Otero. Read This Order Carefully. It Controls This Case and Differs in Some Respects From the Local Rules. (See Order for Details). (sch) (Entered: 02/25/2010)

Feb. 24, 2010

Feb. 24, 2010

PACER
8

PROOF OF SERVICE filed by plaintiff United States of America, re Order 7 served on 03/01/2010. (Gregory, Amanda) (Entered: 03/01/2010)

March 1, 2010

March 1, 2010

PACER
9

ORDER by Judge S. James Otero: granting 4 Joint application to convene a three-judge court to hear and determine this action. The Clerk of this Court shall transmit a copy of this Order to the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. (lc) (Entered: 03/04/2010)

March 1, 2010

March 1, 2010

PACER
11

ORDER from 9th CCA Designating USDC Composed of Three Judges Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2284 Order received in this district on 3/11/10. Having received this statutory notification, I hereby designate and appoint the Hon. Richard C. Tallman, US Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit to sit with the Hon. S. James Oteo and Hon. Jacqueline Nguyen to hear the above-caption matter. Order issue by Judge Alex Kozinski. (cbr) (Entered: 04/01/2010)

March 9, 2010

March 9, 2010

PACER
10

NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION for Extend Time to File Answer to 3/31/2013 re Complaint - (Discovery), Complaint - (Discovery) 1 filed by plaintiff United States of America. Motion set for hearing on 4/26/2010 at 10:00 AM before Judge S. James Otero. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Gregory, Amanda) (Entered: 03/16/2010)

March 16, 2010

March 16, 2010

PACER
12

MINUTES OF IN CHAMBERS ORDER held before Judge S. James Otero: The Court sets a status conference in this matter at the THE RICHARD H. CHAMBERS COURTHOUSE. 125 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, PASADENA, CA 91105, Courtroom 1, on Friday, April 30, 2010 @ 2:00 p.m. The parties shall file a joint status report by April 19, 2010. (lc) (Entered: 04/08/2010)

April 8, 2010

April 8, 2010

PACER
13

MINUTES OF IN CHAMBERS ORDER held before Judge S. James Otero: Pursuant to the three-judge panel, all parties in this matter are Ordered to appear at the statusconference set for hearing on Friday, April 30, 2010 2:00 p.m. Failure to appear shall result in sanctions. (lc) (Entered: 04/12/2010)

April 12, 2010

April 12, 2010

PACER
14

STATUS REPORT (Joint) filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Gregory, Amanda) (Entered: 04/19/2010)

April 19, 2010

April 19, 2010

PACER
15

MINUTES OF IN CHAMBERS ORDER held before Judge S. James Otero: ORDER REGARDING JOINT MOTION TO EXTEND TIME TO FILE AND APPOINT FEDERAL OBSERVERS 10 : The Court advises the parties that the Joint Motion to Extend Time to Answer and Appoint Federal Observers, filed March 16, 2010, will be addressed by the Three-Judge Panel at the Status Conference, which is set for Friday April 30, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., not Monday April 26, 2010. (lc) (Entered: 04/21/2010)

April 21, 2010

April 21, 2010

PACER
16

ORDER by Judge S. James Otero, Judge Jacqueline H Nguyen and Judge Richard C Tallman : granting 10 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer United States of America answer due 3/31/2013, or 20 days following a motion by either party; the appointment of federal observers by the director of the Office of Personnel Management is autorized for riverside County, California for elections administered by the Riverside County Registrar of Voters thrugh 3/31/2013 (lc) (Entered: 05/10/2010)

April 30, 2010

April 30, 2010

PACER
17

MINUTES OF Status Conference held before Judge S. James Otero:The Court and counsel confer regarding federal observers pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Voting Rights Act. Government counsel informs the Court that the parties are working cooperatively towards a complete resolution of the matter. Defendant County of Riverside, et al,indicates that it does not object to Federal Observers but contends that it has not violated the voting rights act. The Court Orders the parties to file a joint status report by Monday, July 25,2011. The Court grants the Order extending time to answer and interlocutory order authorizing appointment of federal observers.Court Recorder: CS:4//30/10. (lc) (Entered: 05/10/2010)

April 30, 2010

April 30, 2010

PACER
18

NOTICE filed by Plaintiff United States of America. Notice of Filing of Federal Observer Reports (Attachments: # 1 Supplement June 8, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 1, # 2 Supplement June 8, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 2, # 3 Supplement June 8, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 3)(Gregory, Amanda) (Entered: 06/30/2010)

June 30, 2010

June 30, 2010

PACER
19

NOTICE of Filing of Federal Observer Reports filed by plaintiff United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement November 2, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 1, # 2 Supplement November 2, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 2, # 3 Supplement November 2, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 3, # 4 Supplement November 2, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 4, # 5 Supplement November 2, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 5, # 6 Supplement November 2, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 6, # 7 Supplement November 2, 2010 Federal Observer Reports Part 7)(Gregory, Amanda) (Entered: 01/04/2011)

Jan. 4, 2011

Jan. 4, 2011

PACER
20

STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Mitchell, Dennis) (Entered: 07/25/2011)

July 25, 2011

July 25, 2011

PACER
21

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal filed by USA United States of America. Dismissal is Without prejudice. (Mitchell, Dennis) (Entered: 04/08/2013)

April 8, 2013

April 8, 2013

Clearinghouse
22

MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge S. James Otero:The Court is in receipt of the NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal filed by USA United States of America 21 filed 4/8/13. Accordingly, the Court Orders this matter dismissed pursuant to the NOTICE of Dismissal (Made JS-6. Case Terminated.) (lc) (Entered: 04/09/2013)

April 9, 2013

April 9, 2013

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 10, 2010

Closing Date: April 9, 2013

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is the United States Department of Justice.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Riverside County (Riverside), County

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Voting Rights Act, section 203 (language minority provision), 52 U.S.C. § 10503 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Order Duration: 2010 - 2013

Content of Injunction:

Develop anti-discrimination policy

Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Reporting

Monitoring

Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)

Voting Process Changes

Issues

General:

Language access/needs

Voting:

Voting: General & Misc.

Voting: Physical/Effective Access

Election administration

Discrimination-basis:

Language discrimination

Language:

Spanish