Filed Date: May 27, 2020
Closed Date: Feb. 22, 2021
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case is about the Attorney General filing an action pursuant to Section 2 and Section 12(d) of the Voting Rights Act to challenge the at-large method of electing members of the school board of the Chamberlain School District.
On May 27, 2020, the Attorney General filed a civil action on behalf of the United States of America seeking injunctive, preventative, and permanent relief for violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The complaint asserted that the school board elections were marked by a pattern of racially polarized voting wherein the white population voted sufficiently as a bloc in elections to defeat the preferred candidate of American Indian voters. Additionally, the complaint asserted that significant socioeconomic disparities such as education and employment hinder the ability of American Indian citizens in the Chamberlain School District to participate effectively in the political process. Finally, the complaint asserted that the use of at-large elections, staggered terms, and off-year elections effectively cause the dilution of the voting strength of American Indian citizens. The plaintiff sought a declaration from the court that the at-large method of electing the Chamberlain School Board violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, wanted the court to enjoin the defendants and all persons acting in concert with them from administering, implementing or conducting any future elections for the Chamberlain School Board under the at-large method of election, and the court to order defendants to devise and implement a method of election that complies with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
On May 28, 2020, the plaintiff and the defendants jointly filed a motion to enter into a consent decree setting forth a new method of election for the seven members of the Chamberlain School Board that complies with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
On June 18, 2020, the court signed and entered an order that the Chamberlain School Board would amend its policy to codify the method of election set forth in the consent decree within three weeks of the entry of the consent decree.
On February 22, 2021, the court administratively closed the file but retained jurisdiction over this matter to enforce the provisions of the consent decree.
Seemingly, this case is now administratively closed.
Summary Authors
Leilani Argersinger (4/13/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17198731/parties/united-states-v-chamberlain-school-district/
Piersol, Lawrence L. (South Dakota)
O'Connor, Maura Eileen (South Dakota)
Ramsdell, Alison J. (South Dakota)
Ryan, Elizabeth M. (South Dakota)
Freeman, Rodney Freeman (South Dakota)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17198731/united-states-v-chamberlain-school-district/
Last updated April 13, 2026, 12:11 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 27, 2020
Closing Date: Feb. 22, 2021
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff is the United States of America.
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
School District
Chamberlain School District
members of the Chamberlain School District
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)
Other Dockets:
District of South Dakota 4:20-cv-04084
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Order Duration: 2021 - 2021
Issues
Voting:
Challenges to at-large/multimember district/election
Case Summary of United States v. Chamberlain School District, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/44523/ (last updated 4/13/2026).