Case: Price v. Sessions

1:17-cv-02439 | U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Filed Date: Oct. 10, 2017

Closed Date: Oct. 26, 2017

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Case Summary

This case is about the 2011 redistricting plan that the Colorado legislature created after the 2010 census. On 10 October 2017, the plaintiff, a registered voter in the Second Congressional District of Colorado and a resident of Boulder, Colorado, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Attorney General of the United States. The plaintiff requested clarification of Article I of the US Constitution, in particular the requirement that "Members of the Ho…

This case is about the 2011 redistricting plan that the Colorado legislature created after the 2010 census.

On 10 October 2017, the plaintiff, a registered voter in the Second Congressional District of Colorado and a resident of Boulder, Colorado, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Attorney General of the United States. The plaintiff requested clarification of Article I of the US Constitution, in particular the requirement that "Members of the House of Representatives, chosen...by the people of the several states...".  In the Plaintiff's view, as a result of redistricting for the House of Representatives in 2011, the majority of states - including Colorado - had been gerrymandered, denying him meaningful choice in House of Representatives elections and impinging on his Article I rights.  Representing himself pro se, the Plaintiff proposed his own resolution to the issue of redistricting nationwide and sought declarations that this would replace existing districts. The Plaintiff also sought declarations that voter choice take precedence among other criteria when redistricting takes place for the House of Representatives, and that the US Constitution (in particular Article I) and federal law take precedence over state law in the redistricting process.

On 11 October 2017, Magistrate Judge Watanabe made an Order to Show Cause, requiring the Plaintiff to show cause why the Court had subject matter jurisdiction over the case and/or why it should not be dismissed due to Plaintiff's lack of standing.  The Judge also noted that Plaintiff's case was substantially similar to a previous lawsuit brought by the plaintiff on 29 November 2016 (16-cv-02905).

On 24 October 2017, the plaintiff filed a Motion to Dismiss his claim by voluntary dismissal, rendering the Order to Show Cause unnecessary.  In this Motion, the plaintiff noted that the present case was in fact "notably different" from his previous case in 2016.

The Court accepted the Motion to Dismiss. the case was terminated on 26 October 2017.

Summary Authors

Henry Coates (9/4/2024)

Related Cases

Price v. Lynch, District of Colorado (2016)

Price v. Sessions, District of Colorado (None)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6167513/parties/price-v-sessions/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Attorney, OIL-DCS Trial (Colorado)

Attorney, Noticing 2241/Bivens (Colorado)

Bacchus, Renee A. (Colorado)

Balaban, Rachel G. (Colorado)

Bennett, Richard Wesley (Colorado)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
001

1:17-cv-02439

Complaint

Oct. 10, 2017

Oct. 10, 2017

Complaint
005

1:17-cv-02439

Minute Order

Oct. 11, 2017

Oct. 11, 2017

Order/Opinion
4

1:17-cv-02439

Order to Show Cause

Oct. 11, 2017

Oct. 11, 2017

Order/Opinion
006

1:17-cv-02439

Plaintiff's Motion to Dismiss

Oct. 24, 2017

Oct. 24, 2017

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6167513/price-v-sessions/

Last updated Aug. 8, 2025, 7:36 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Jeff Sessions Filing Fee: $400.00;Receipt Number:COX081900, filed by John C. Price. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(dbera, ) (Entered: 10/10/2017)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Oct. 10, 2017

Oct. 10, 2017

Clearinghouse
2

Case assigned to Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe. Text Only Entry (dbera, ) (Entered: 10/10/2017)

Oct. 10, 2017

Oct. 10, 2017

PACER
3

SUMMONS issued by Clerk. Summons and Magistrate Consent Form issued in paper format at the front counter. (dbera, ) (Entered: 10/10/2017)

Oct. 10, 2017

Oct. 10, 2017

PACER
4

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: Show Cause Hearing set for 11/16/2017 10:00 AM in Courtroom A 502 before Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe. Plaintiff shall appear in person and show cause why this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this case and/or why this case should not be dismissed due to Plaintiffs lack of standing, by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe on 10/11/2017. (slibi, ) (Entered: 10/11/2017)

Oct. 11, 2017

Oct. 11, 2017

Clearinghouse
5

MINUTE ORDER Consent /Non-Consent Form due on or before 11/30/2017, by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe on 10/11/2017. (slibi, ) (Entered: 10/11/2017)

Oct. 11, 2017

Oct. 11, 2017

Clearinghouse
6

Plaintiff's MOTION to Dismiss 17-cv-2439 by Plaintiff John C. Price. (angar, ) (Entered: 10/26/2017)

Oct. 24, 2017

Oct. 24, 2017

Clearinghouse
7

Civil Case Terminated pursuant to the 6 Motion to Dismiss filed in this case on 10/24/2017. Text Only Entry (tsher, ) (Entered: 10/26/2017)

Oct. 26, 2017

Oct. 26, 2017

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Colorado

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 10, 2017

Closing Date: Oct. 26, 2017

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Registered voter in Second Congressional District of State of Colorado

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Jeff Sessions, Attorney General of the United States, Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

Voting:

Redistricting/district composition

Vote dilution