Case: Harper v. Lewis
5:19-cv-00452 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
Filed Date: Oct. 14, 2019
Closed Date: Dec. 2, 2019
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Case Summary
On September 27, 2019, a group of North Carolina voters filed a lawsuit against members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections and various state legislators in North Carolina's Superior Court for Wake County. Plaintiffs alleged that the state's 2016 congressional redistricting plan was an unconstitutional gerrymander in violation of the Free Elections Clause, Equal Protection Clause, and Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Association Clauses of the North Carolina Constitution.
Plaintiffs argued that the 2016 map was drawn with the express intent to maximize Republican advantage. Plaintiffs asked the Superior Court to declare the map unconstitutional and enjoin the state from using it in the 2020 primary and general elections. On October 14, 2019, defendants removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina but the District Court remanded the case back to the Superior Court a week later.
On October 28, 2019, the Superior Court granted the motion for a preliminary injunction barring the state from using the map in the 2020 primary and general elections. Shortly thereafter, plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment on October 31, 2019. The North Carolina General Assembly passed a new congressional redistricting plan on its own initiative on November 15, 2019, circumventing the litigation. On December 2, 2019, the Superior Court lifted its preliminary injunction and allowed the 2020 congressional elections to proceed under the new redistricting plan.
On November 5, 2021, plaintiffs filed a motion to file a supplemental complaint and a supplemental complaint challenging the new congressional redistricting plan on the same grounds that they had challenged the 2016 plan. While awaiting a decision on whether the supplemental complaint would be allowed, on November 18, 2021, plaintiffs filed a parallel lawsuit, Harper v. Hall 868 S.E.2d 499 (2022), that was substantively identical to the supplemental complaint. Litigation of the 2021 map proceeded under that lawsuit and on December 1, 2021, plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the supplemental complaint and the claims therein.
Summary Authors
Anna Lennon (12/24/2022)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16329573/parties/harper-v-lewis/
Amunson, Jessica Ring
Bernstein, Richard Douglas
Adams, John Christian
Amar, Vikram David
Barnes, Mel
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16329573/harper-v-lewis/
Last updated Sept. 1, 2026, 5:22 a.m.
Docket for: Harper v. Lewis
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 14, 2019
Closing Date: Dec. 2, 2019
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
North Carolina voters.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
State
House Standing Committee on Redistricting
North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina Senate
North Carolina State Board of Elections
Senate Standing Committee on Redistricting
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of North Carolina 5:19-cv-00452
North Carolina state trial court No. 19-cvs-12667
North Carolina state trial court 21-cvs-500085
North Carolina state supreme court 413PA21
Supreme Court of the United States 21-1271
Supreme Court of the United States 21A455
Supreme Court of the United States 22A289
Supreme Court of the United States 22A385
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Issues
Voting:
Redistricting/district composition
Case Summary of Harper v. Lewis, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/43843/ (last updated 12/24/2022).