Filed Date: Jan. 16, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a challenge to the method of electing the Houston County Board of Commissioners in Houston County, Georgia.
On January 16, 2025, the United States of America filed this suit in the Middle District of Georgia against Houston County and several members of the Houston County Board of Commissioners. Plaintiff alleged that Defendants violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), 52 U.S.C. §§ 10301 by using a method of electing the Houston County Board of Commissioners that diluted the voting strength of Black citizens and giving Black citizens having less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice. Specifically, Plaintiff alleged that the Black population of Houston County was politically cohesive, and the White population voted as a bloc to usually defeat the preferred candidate of Black voters. As such, only one Black citizen had been voted into office since Reconstruction. Plaintiff sought declaratory and injunctive relief enjoining Defendants from administering, implementing, or conducting any future elections under the current method of election; and an order for Defendants to devise and implement an election system that complied with Section 2 of the VRA.
On January 25, 2025, several Black voters in Houston County filed a motion to intervene, arguing that the Plaintiff inadequately represented their interest and they shared an interest in the litigation as voters affected by the current election method. The court granted the motion to intervene on March 4, finding that the intervenors could offer new evidence that could shed additional light on the issue. The following day, the intervenor-plaintiffs filed a complaint, adding facts and details to the complaint. The intervenor-plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief prohibiting further use of the existing method of election on the ground that it diluted Black voting strength in violation of Section 2. Intervenor-plaintiffs further sought attorneys’ fees and expenses under 52 U.S.C. § 10310(e) and 42 U.S.C. § 1988.
On March 17, 2025, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Defendants argued that Plaintiff sued the wrong party, as Defendants did not administer the elections in Houston County and did not adopt the countywide method of election, nor would enjoining them change the current method of election of commissioners. A decision on this motion is pending.
The following week, Plaintiff flipped its position and filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss the case. While Plaintiff did not specify why it decided to dismiss the case, the dismissal fits in the Trump Administration's dismissal of many Biden-era voting rights litigation.
The case was closed the following day. However, the case was reopened the same day in light of the Intervenor Plaintiffs' complaint.
On March 26, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Intervenor Plaintiffs' complaint. An order on this motion is pending.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Madilynn O'Hara (3/12/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69554602/parties/united-states-v-houston-county/
FREEMAN, DANIEL J (Georgia)
MCFARLAND, ERNEST ALAN (Georgia)
JACOUTOT, BRYAN FRANCIS (Georgia)
LAROSS, DIANE (Georgia)
BARRON, LYNSEY (Georgia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69554602/united-states-v-houston-county/
Last updated April 21, 2025, 3:14 p.m.
State / Territory: Georgia
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 16, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Houston County (Houston), County
members of the Houston County Board of Commissioners (Houston), County
Defendant Type(s):
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: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis:
Voting: