MALDEF Readies For Redistricting Case In Texas

MALDEF is prepping to take up its redistricting case in Texas again next year, a note from Director of Litigation Nina Perales told supporters:

The Supreme Court wants to review the case now.  It set the following schedule:  our opening briefs are due December 21, 2011 and response briefs are due January 3, 2012.  The Supreme Court will hear oral argument on January 9, 2011.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Texas now has no redistricting plans for state House, Senate or congress for the 2012 elections.  It would not be an understatement to say that the Texas election process has been thrown into chaos.  The candidates do not know where they are running, voters don’t know what districts they live in and the political parties don’t know when they are going to be able to hold the primary elections for state House, Senate and congress.

Also as a result of the Supreme Court’s stay of the interim redistricting plans, the federal 3-judge panel in Washington DC has set an early trial date for the State’s request for section 5 preclearance of its redistricting plans.  We have been ordered to try the case from January 17, 2012 to January 26, 2012.  This case will focus on whether the Texas redistricting plans for state House, Senate and congress diminish minority voting strength.  If the federal panel in DC finds that the plans diminish minority voting strength it can conclude the plans violate section 5 and block them from going into effect.