Litigation in the 2010 cycle

Romo v. Scott, No. 2012-CA-000412 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Leon County) and No. 1D12-5280 & No. 1D13-966 (Dist. Ct. of Appeal, 1st Dist.): an action in state court challenging the congressional plan on state constitutional grounds, including violations of state prohibitions on partisan and racial gerrymandering, and requirements of compactness and adherence to political boundaries.
     - Romo complaint (Feb. 9, 2012) and amd. complaint (Apr. 3).
          - League of Women Voters complaint (Feb. 17) and amended complaint (Apr. 3).
     - Motions to dismiss:
          - MTD Romo complaint by legislature (Mar. 23), Att'y Gen., SoS (Mar. 26).
               - Legislature's motion to dismiss amd. complaint (Apr. 19), response (May 15).
          - MTD League complaint by legislature, Att'y Gen., SoS (Mar. 28).
               - Legislature's motion to dismiss amd. complaint (Apr. 19).
          - Order denying motions to dismiss (May 30).
     - Motions for summary judgment by League of Women Voters (app.), Romo (Mar. 26).
          - Response by legislature, Att'y Gen., SoS (Apr. 5).
          - Order denying plaintiffs' motions for summary judgment (Apr. 30).
     - Motion for protective order re privilege (July 12), opp. (I, II) (Aug. 28), reply (Aug. 31).
          - Leg. supp. memo re privilege (Sept. 10).
          - Order granting in part, denying in part, protective order for leg. privilege (Oct. 5).
                    - Leg. motion to compel (Oct. 10), opp. (Nov. 2), reply (Dec. 4).
                    - Plaintiffs' motion to compel (Oct. 29), opp. (Dec. 6).
                    - Motion for protective order re leg. privilege (Nov. 16).
                         - Order re discovery (Jan. 18, 2013).
                              - Motion to clarify/reconsider (Jan. 28), denied (Feb. 7).
                    - Non-parties' motion to quash (memo) (Dec. 4, 2012), resp. (Dec. 17).
                         - Order re discovery (Jan. 30, 2013).
               - Court of appeal
                    - Leg. petition for cert. re protective order (app.) (Oct. 31).
                         - Response by SoS, LWV plaintiffs (Dec. 6), Romo plaintiffs (Jan. 11, 2013).
                    - Non-parties' petition for cert. re motion to quash (Mar. 1, 2013).
                         - Response by SoS (Apr. 12), Fla. Senate (Apr. 22), reply (May 10).

The latest: The complaint was filed on February 9, with motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment filed thereafter. On April 30, the court denied plaintiffs' motions for summary judgment, and on May 30, it denied defendants' motions to dismiss; the case is now proceeding to trial. Litigation over discovery has continued, with a hearing before the court of appeal scheduled for March 26.

League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner (LWV II), No. 2012-CA-002842 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Leon County) & No. SC13-252 (Fla. Sup. Ct.): an action in state court challenging the state Senate plan on state constitutional grounds, including violations of state prohibitions on partisan gerrymandering, and requirements of compactness and adherence to political boundaries.
      Trial court
          - Complaint (Sept. 5, 2012).
          - Leg. defendants' motion for protective order (Oct. 16), response (Nov. 7).
          - Leg. defendants' motion for protective order (Nov. 16).
          - Motion to dismiss by leg. defendants (Oct. 22), SoS (Nov. 13).
               - Response (Dec. 14), reply (Dec. 18).
               - Order denying motion to dismiss (Jan. 18, 2013).
      State supreme court
          - Petition for writ of prohibition (app.) (Feb. 15), response (Feb. 28), reply (Mar. 8).
The latest: On Jan. 18, the court denied a motion to dismiss, finding that the state Supreme Court's initial review of state legislative plans is not exclusive. The legislative defendants have asked the state Supreme Court to review that decision; oral argument is scheduled for May 9.

In re 2012 Joint Resolution of Apportionment, No. SC12-1 (Fla. Sup. Ct.): an action in the state Supreme Court, which automatically reviews state legislative lines.
     - Petition for decl. judgment & app. (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H1, H2, H3) (Feb. 10, 2012).
     - Briefs by:
          - Att'y Gen., Senate (app.), House (app.) (Feb. 17).
          - Election Sups., City of Lakeland, Fla. Dem. Party (app.) (Feb. 17).
          - League of Women Voters (app. (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M)) (Feb. 17).
     - Replies by:
          - League of Women Voters (Feb. 22).
          - Florida House (app.), Florida Senate (app.), Att'y Gen. (Feb. 23).
     - Opinion upholding House, striking Senate districts (Mar. 9).
The latest: On March 9, the state Supreme Court issued an opinion upholding the state House plan and striking down the state Senate plan. In particular, it found in the Senate plan several violations of Florida's newly amended state constitution, including impermissible indicia of intent to favor incumbents (including in the numbering of districts), inadequate protections of minority populations, and violations of compactness and political geography requirements.

League of Women Voters of Fla. v. Scott, No. 4:11-CV-10006 (S.D. Fla.): When the Governor withdrew a request to preclear the ballot initiatives known as Amendments 5 and 6 (which became Art. III, §§ 20 and 21 of the Florida Constitution when passed in 2010), plaintiffs sued in federal court to force a preclearance submission.
     - Complaint (Feb. 3, 2011).
     - Amendments submitted for preclearance by state legislature (Mar. 29, 2011).
The latest: The state moved for dismissal on mootness grounds, and the case was dismissed on April 15, 2011. The Amendments were actually precleared on May 31, 2011.

Diaz-Balart v. Scott, No. 1:10-CV-23968 (S.D. Fla.) and No. 11-14554 (11th Cir.): a challenge in federal court to the ballot initiative known as Amendment 6, which became Art. III, § 20 of the Florida Constitution when passed in 2010, on the grounds that it impermissibly restrains the legislature's power to draw district lines under Art. I, § 4 of the federal Constitution.
     - District court
          - Original (Nov. 3, 2010), 1st (Nov. 8), and 2nd amended complaint (Jan. 31, 2011).
          - Intervenor FL House of Rep. complaint (Jan. 14).
          - Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment (Apr. 25) and state's response (May 25).
          - State (May 25) and Intervenor Fla. NAACP (May 25) motions for summary judgment.
               - Plaintiffs' response (June 9), State's reply (June 24), Fla. NAACP reply (June 24).
               - Plaintiffs' sur-reply (July 12), State's response (July 12).
          - Order granting summary judgment to the defendants (Sept. 9).
     - Court of appeals
          - Appellant's brief (Oct. 28), reply (Dec. 2).
          - Secretary of State's brief (Nov. 17).
          - Defendant-intervenors' brief (Nov. 18).
          - Opinion affirming trial court (Jan. 31).
The latest: On September 9, the court granted summary judgment to the defendants, rejecting the plaintiffs' challenges to Amendment 6. The court held that the federal constitution grants power to the states to regulate elections through the legislative process, but that this grant includes any legislative process provided by state law, including (where relevant) citizen initiatives. On January 31, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the trial court's decision.

In re 2012 Joint Resolution of Apportionment, No. SC12-460 (Fla. Sup. Ct.): an action in the state Supreme Court, which automatically reviews state legislative lines, to review the newly redrawn state Senate lines.
     - Petition for decl. judgment (Apr. 5, 2012).
          - app. (A, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, C1, C2, C3, C4, D1, D2, D3, D4).
          - app. (E1, E2, E3, E4, F1, F2, F3, F4, G, G3, G4).
     - Briefs and comments by:
          - Senate (app.), SoS (Apr. 13).
          - Election Sups., Fla. Dem. Party (app.) (Apr. 10), City of Lakeland (Apr. 11).
          - Fla. League of Women Voters (app. (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, [no K], L)) (Apr. 10).
          - Fla. NAACP (Apr. 10).
               - Replies by Fla. Dem. Party, Fla. League, Fla. NAACP (Apr. 16).
     - Opinion approving redrawn Senate map (Apr. 27).
The latest: On April 27, the court approved Florida's redrawn state Senate plan, finding the redrawn districts to be in keeping with Florida's state constitutional standards.

Florida v. United States, No. 1:12-cv-00380 (D.D.C.): an action in federal court requesting preclearance of Florida's congressional and state legislative districts.
     - Complaint (Mar. 12, 2012) and amended complaint (Mar. 30).
     - Preclearance by DOJ (Apr. 30).
     - Notice of voluntary dismissal (May 1).
The latest: After the plans were precleared on April 30, the suit was dismissed.