Filed Date: Jan. 7, 2025
Closed Date: April 22, 2025
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This lawsuit challenged the City of Hazleton’s election system on the grounds that it violated the Voting Rights Act. On January 7, 2025, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed this lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The DOJ sued the City of Hazleton, the Hazleton City Council, and Mayor Jeff Cusat under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Represented by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief. Judge Karoline Mehalchick was assigned to the case.
The DOJ claimed that Hazleton’s at-large election system had diluted the voting strength of Hispanic citizens by preventing them from having an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice. The complaint also highlighted language barriers in the community that had hindered Hispanic residents’ ability to effectively communicate with government agencies, exacerbating the discriminatory effect. According to the DOJ, these factors constituted a denial or abridgment of the right to vote based on race, color, or language minority status, in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
On March 10, 2025, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Then, on April 21, 2025, the DOJ filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, which the court approved the next day, April 22, 2025, formally terminating the case.
Summary Authors
Daria Wick (2/10/2025)
Victoria Tan (7/9/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69526689/parties/united-states-v-city-of-hazleton/
Butler, Michael (Pennsylvania)
Clarke, Kristen (Pennsylvania)
Gear, Bruce (Pennsylvania)
Hagler, R. Tamar (Pennsylvania)
Dean, John G. (Pennsylvania)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69526689/united-states-v-city-of-hazleton/
Last updated Aug. 19, 2025, 11:11 p.m.
State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 7, 2025
Closing Date: April 22, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States Department of Justice
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis:
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):
Voting: