Case: Mexican American Legislative Caucus v. State of Texas

1:21-cv-00988 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Filed Date: Nov. 3, 2021

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case involves allegations that the 2021 redistricting plans for the Texas House (Plan H2316), Texas Senate (Plan S2168), Texas State Board of Education (Plan E2106), and the U.S. House of Representatives (C2193) intentionally discriminated against Latino voters. On November 3, 2021, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), a non-profit organization serving members of the Texas House of Representatives, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (…

This case involves allegations that the 2021 redistricting plans for the Texas House (Plan H2316), Texas Senate (Plan S2168), Texas State Board of Education (Plan E2106), and the U.S. House of Representatives (C2193) intentionally discriminated against Latino voters.

On November 3, 2021, the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), a non-profit organization serving members of the Texas House of Representatives, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (El Paso). MALC sued the State of Texas, the Governor of Texas, and the Secretary of State of Texas, citing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The plaintiffs were represented by private counsel, and the case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert L. Pitman.

The plaintiffs had three key allegations: First, the redistricting plans intentionally discriminated on the basis of race and national origin. Second, the plans used racial gerrymandering techniques such as “packing” and “cracking” of minority communities as well as inconsistent use of traditional redistricting criteria in order to avoid drawing Latino and minority opportunity districts. Third, the redistricting plans diluted the voting power of Latino communities by dramatically over-populating Latino majority districts and dramatically under-populating surrounding Anglo majority districts. The plaintiffs sought declaratory relief and attorneys’ fees. They also sought an injunction to prevent any elections under the proposed plans and to require state authorities to adopt new redistricting plans that do not minimize the voting strength of Latino voters.

On November 19, 2021, the district court consolidated MALC v. State of Texas with several other pending challenges to the redistricting plan. The consolidated cases were assigned to a three-judge panel composed of District Judges David C. Guaderrama, Jerry E. Smith, and Jeffrey V. Brown. LULAC v. Abbott was designated the lead case. As of September 2024, that litigation is ongoing.

Summary Authors

John McGinnis (9/30/2024)

Related Cases

Brooks v. Abbott, Western District of Texas (2021)

League of United Latin v. Abbott, Western District of Texas (None)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60695433/parties/mexican-american-legislative-caucus-v-state-of-texas/


Judge(s)

Guaderrama, David Campos (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

McCaffity, Sean J. (Texas)

Quesada, George (Tex) (Texas)

Attorney for Defendant

Sweeten, Patrick K. (Texas)

Thompson, William Thomas (Texas)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:21-cv-00988

Complaint

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

Complaint
5

1:21-cv-00988

Order Constituting Three-Judge Court

Nov. 9, 2021

Nov. 9, 2021

Order/Opinion
6

1:21-cv-00988

Order Consolidating Cases

Nov. 19, 2021

Nov. 19, 2021

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60695433/mexican-american-legislative-caucus-v-state-of-texas/

Last updated Jan. 30, 2025, 5:06 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number 0542-15401073), filed by Mexican American Legislative Caucus, Texas House of Representatives. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Quesada, George (Tex)) (Entered: 11/03/2021)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

RECAP
1

Complaint

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

Clearinghouse
2

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS by Mexican American Legislative Caucus. (Quesada, George (Tex)) (Entered: 11/03/2021)

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

Remark: The original random judge assignment to Judge Pitman was voided due to clerical error. Based on the related case information provided in the civil cover sheet, the case has been directly assigned to Judge Pitman. (dl)

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

To be Referred to AU Mag Judge

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER
2

Request for Issuance of Summons

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

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)

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

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

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

To be Referred to AU Mag Judge

Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021

PACER

Remark (No Doc#)

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER

To be Referred to AU Mag Judge

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER
3

Summons Issued

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER
3

Summons Issued as to Greg Abbott, John Scott. (dl) (Entered: 11/04/2021)

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER

Remark (No Doc#)

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER

To be Referred to AU Mag Judge

Nov. 4, 2021

Nov. 4, 2021

PACER
4

Miscellaneous Relief

Nov. 8, 2021

Nov. 8, 2021

PACER
4

MOTION Requesting Three Judge Panel by Greg Abbott, John Scott, State of Texas. (Sweeten, Patrick) (Entered: 11/08/2021)

Nov. 8, 2021

Nov. 8, 2021

PACER
5

ORDER CONSTITUTING THREE-JUDGE COURT: Judge Jerry E. Smith, Circuit Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit; Judge Robert Pitman, U.S. District Court Judge; and Judge Jeffrey V. Brown, U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Texas. Signed by Priscilla R. Owen, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit(jv2) (Entered: 11/09/2021)

Nov. 8, 2021

Nov. 8, 2021

RECAP
5

Order Appointing Three Judge Panel

Nov. 9, 2021

Nov. 9, 2021

Clearinghouse
6

Order

Nov. 19, 2021

Nov. 19, 2021

Clearinghouse
6

ORDER Consolidating Cases. This case is consolidated into lead case LULAC v. Abbott, No. 3:21-CV-00259 (W.D. Tex., El Paso Division). All future pleadings, motions, orother documents should be filed under that cause number. Signed by Judge David C Guaderrama. (lt) (Entered: 11/19/2021)

Nov. 19, 2021

Nov. 19, 2021

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 3, 2021

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A non-profit organization serving members of the Texas House of Representatives

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State of Texas, State

Governor of the State of Texas, State

Secretary of State of Texas, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Fifteenth Amendment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Order Duration: 2021 - None

Issues