Case: Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP v. Galveston County

3:22-cv-00117 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Filed Date: April 14, 2022

Closed Date: June 1, 2022

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case about alleged racial gerrymandering in the state of Texas. On April 14, 2022, the three county branches of the NAACP, the Mainland, Dickinson Bay Area, andGalveston branches, and the local Galveston-area council of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC Council 151) sued Galveston County, Texas, and several county officials challenging the maps adopted for county commissioner districts during the 2021 redistricting process. The complaint included three counts and al…

This is a case about alleged racial gerrymandering in the state of Texas.

On April 14, 2022, the three county branches of the NAACP, the Mainland, Dickinson Bay Area, and
Galveston branches, and the local Galveston-area council of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC Council 151) sued Galveston County, Texas, and several county officials challenging the maps adopted for county commissioner districts during the 2021 redistricting process. The complaint included three counts and alleged that county officials engaged in intentional racial discrimination in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, racial gerrymandering in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and vote dilution in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The case was assigned to Magistrate Judge Andrew M Edison and Judge Jeffrey V Brown.

On June 1, 2022, the court consolidated two other cases challenging the 2021 redistricting process, Petteway v. Galveston County and United States of America v. Galveston County, Texas., with this case and designating Petteway as the lead case. See the summary for the Petteway case for a more thorough discussion of the redistricting process, arguments in the case, and updates since the consolidation.

show full summary

Summary Authors

LFAA (11/14/2024)

United States of America v. Galveston County, Texas, Southern District of Texas (2022)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63237494/parties/dickinson-bay-area-branch-naacp-v-galveston-county-do-not-docket-in-this/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Chen, Sarah Xiyi (Texas)

Garrett, Kathryn Carr (Texas)

Gonzalez, Joaquin (Texas)

Attorney for Defendant

Elton, Jordan Raschke (Texas)

Holt, Dallin Brockbank (Texas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Chen, Sarah Xiyi (Texas)

Garrett, Kathryn Carr (Texas)

Gonzalez, Joaquin (Texas)

Klein, Hilary Harris (Texas)

Mancino, Richard (Texas)

Marziani, Mimi Murray (Texas)

Mirza, Hani (Texas)

Polizzano, Michelle Anne (Texas)

Silberstein, Andrew (Texas)

Spencer, Nickolas Anthony (Texas)

Suriani, JoAnna (Texas)

Zhu, Molly Linda (Texas)

Attorney for Defendant

Elton, Jordan Raschke (Texas)

Holt, Dallin Brockbank (Texas)

Jr, Joseph R (Texas)

Olalde, Angela (Texas)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 3:22-cv-00117	Complaint	April 14, 2022	April 14, 2022 Complaint
38 3:22-cv-00117	Plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint	May 25, 2022	May 25, 2022 Complaint

show / hide documents

Resources

Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
Black Farmers FAQ: The history of discrimination against Black farmers and policy initiatives to remedy these inequities. Legal Defense Fund	Black farmers have long faced systemic discrimination by public and private institutions and barriers to economic mobility. Inequities in the administration of government farm programs and discrimina…		https://www.naacpldf.org/...

show / hide resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63237494/dickinson-bay-area-branch-naacp-v-galveston-county-do-not-docket-in-this/

Last updated Aug. 8, 2025, 1:56 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against All Defendants (Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ATXSDC-28030978) filed by GALVESTON LULAC COUNCIL 151, DICKINSON BAY AREA BRANCH NAACP, MAINLAND BRANCH NAACP, GALVESTON BRANCH NAACP. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/14/2022) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	April 14, 2022	April 14, 2022 Clearinghouse
2	Request for Issuance of Summons as to All Plaintiffs, filed.(Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/14/2022)	April 14, 2022	April 14, 2022 PACER
3	ORDER for Initial Pretrial and Scheduling Conference and Order to Disclose Interested Persons. Initial Conference set for 8/10/2022 at 09:00 AM in by video before Magistrate Judge Andrew M Edison(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(VanesaAranda, 3) (Entered: 04/15/2022)	April 15, 2022	April 15, 2022 RECAP
4	Summons Issued as to All Defendants. Issued summons delivered to plaintiff by NEF, filed.(VanesaAranda, 3) (Entered: 04/15/2022)	April 15, 2022	April 15, 2022 PACER
5	MOTION for Hilary Harris Klein to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/6/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/15/2022)	April 15, 2022	April 15, 2022 PACER
6	MOTION for Sarah Xiyi Chen to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/9/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/18/2022)	April 18, 2022	April 18, 2022 PACER
7	MOTION for Joaquin Gonzalez to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/9/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/18/2022)	April 18, 2022	April 18, 2022 PACER
8	ORDER granting 5 Motion for Hilary Harris Klein to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
9	ORDER granting 6 Motion for Sarah Xiyi Chen to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
10	ORDER granting 7 Motion for Joaquin Gonzalez to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
11	MOTION for Kathryn Carr Garrett to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/10/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
12	MOTION for Richard Mancino to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/10/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
13	MOTION for Michelle Polizzano to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/10/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
14	MOTION for Andrew Silberstein to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/10/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
15	MOTION for JoAnna Suriani to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/10/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
16	MOTION for Molly Linda Zhu to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/10/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/19/2022)	April 19, 2022	April 19, 2022 PACER
17	MOTION for Kathryn Carr Garrett to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/16/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/25/2022)	April 25, 2022	April 25, 2022 PACER
18	MOTION for Richard Mancino to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/16/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/25/2022)	April 25, 2022	April 25, 2022 PACER
19	MOTION for Michelle Polizzano to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/16/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/25/2022)	April 25, 2022	April 25, 2022 PACER
20	MOTION for Andrew Silberstein to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/16/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/25/2022)	April 25, 2022	April 25, 2022 PACER
21	MOTION for JoAnna Suriani to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/16/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/25/2022)	April 25, 2022	April 25, 2022 PACER
22	MOTION for Molly Linda Zhu to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/16/2022. (Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/25/2022)	April 25, 2022	April 25, 2022 PACER
23	ORDER granting 17 Motion for Kathryn Carr Garrett to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/26/2022)	April 26, 2022	April 26, 2022 PACER
24	ORDER granting 18 Motion for Richard Mancino to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/26/2022)	April 26, 2022	April 26, 2022 PACER
25	ORDER granting 19 Motion for Michelle Anne Polizzano to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/26/2022)	April 26, 2022	April 26, 2022 PACER
26	ORDER granting 20 Motion for Andrew Silberstein to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/26/2022)	April 26, 2022	April 26, 2022 PACER
27	ORDER granting 21 Motion for JoAnna Suriani to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/26/2022)	April 26, 2022	April 26, 2022 PACER
28	ORDER granting 22 Motion for Molly Linda Zhu to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/26/2022)	April 26, 2022	April 26, 2022 PACER
29	CERTIFICATE OF INTERESTED PARTIES by Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed.(Mirza, Hani) (Entered: 04/29/2022)	April 29, 2022	April 29, 2022 PACER
30	NOTICE of Appearance by Dallin B. Holt on behalf of Galveston County, Mark Henry, Dwight D. Sullivan, filed. (Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 05/10/2022)	May 10, 2022	May 10, 2022 PACER
31	MOTION for Jason B. Torchinsky to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Galveston County, Mark Henry, Dwight D. Sullivan, filed. Motion Docket Date 6/1/2022. (Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 05/11/2022)	May 11, 2022	May 11, 2022 PACER
32	MOTION for Shawn T. Sheehy to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Galveston County, Mark Henry, Dwight D. Sullivan, filed. Motion Docket Date 6/1/2022. (Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 05/11/2022)	May 11, 2022	May 11, 2022 PACER
33	Opposed MOTION to Stay by Galveston County, Mark Henry, Dwight D. Sullivan, filed. Motion Docket Date 6/7/2022. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 05/17/2022) 1 Proposed Order View on PACER	May 17, 2022	May 17, 2022 PACER
34	DESIGNATION of Sarah Xiyi Chen as attorney in charge of Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Mainland Branch NAACP, filed.(Chen, Sarah) (Entered: 05/18/2022)	May 18, 2022	May 18, 2022 PACER
35	RETURN of Service of SUMMONS Executed as to All Defendants, filed. (Attachments: # 1 Executed Summons and cert of svc for County Judge, # 2 Executed Summons and cert of svc for County)(Chen, Sarah) (Entered: 05/18/2022) 1 Executed Summons and cert of svc for County Judge View on PACER 2 Executed Summons and cert of svc for County View on PACER	May 18, 2022	May 18, 2022 PACER
36	ORDER denying 33 Motion to Stay.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/24/2022)	May 24, 2022	May 24, 2022 PACER
37	NOTICE of Appearance by Joseph R. Russo, Jr., Angie Olalde, Jordan Raschke on behalf of Galveston County, Mark Henry, Dwight D. Sullivan, filed. (Russo, Joseph) (Entered: 05/25/2022)	May 25, 2022	May 25, 2022 PACER
38	First AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Defendants filed by Mainland Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston LULAC Council 151, Edna Courville, Joe A. Compian, Leon Phillips.(Chen, Sarah) (Entered: 05/25/2022)	May 25, 2022	May 25, 2022 Clearinghouse
39	ORDER TO CONSOLIDATE CASES: Lead Case No. 3:22-cv-57 and Member Case No. 3:22-cv-117 (Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(agould, 3) (Entered: 06/01/2022)	June 1, 2022	June 1, 2022 PACER

show / hide docket entries

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 14, 2022

Closing Date: June 1, 2022

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, Galveston Branch NAACP, Mainland Branch NAACP, and Galveston League of United Latin American Citizens (“LULAC”) Council 151

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Galveston County (Galveston), County

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action: