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Alabama | Congress

Caster v. Allen (was Merrill)

Last Updated Jul 11, 2024
Case No. 2:21-cv-00751 (M.D. Ala.), Nos. 2:21-cv-01536, 2:23-mc-01181 (N.D. Ala.), Nos. 22-10272, 23-12923 (11th Cir.), Nos. 21A376, 21-1087, 23A241 (S. Ct.)
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Case Information

** This challenge was heard alongside, but (outside of Supreme Court proceedings) not generally consolidated with, Milligan v. Merrill **

A federal court challenge to Alabama’s congressional districts, alleging that the map violates the Voting Rights Act. 

On Jan. 24, 2022, the trial court granted a preliminary injunction, finding the plaintiffs likely to prevail on their VRA claim (and reserving ruling on the constitutional claim).  The court also postponed the 2022 qualification deadline, to give the legislature time to draw a remedial map.  On Feb. 7, 2022, the Supreme Court stayed the injunction and granted certiorari before judgment.  On June 8, 2023, the Supreme Court affirmed the trial court — and in the process, preserved precedent on the appropriate interpretation of the Voting Rights Act.

On remand, the state drew a new congressional plan on July 21, 2023; the trial court rejected that plan on Sept. 5, 2023, and directed a special master to draw a remedial map.  On Oct. 5, 2003, the court ordered the implementation of one of the remedial maps recommended by the special master.  These rulings are all pursuant to a preliminary injunction, not a final judgment.

On Jan. 31, 2024, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint alleging that the state’s 2023 enacted map again violated the VRA.

History

Case filings, starting with most recent court
    Name Last Modified
Document icon Application for stay Sep 11, 2023
Document icon Motion to withdraw application for stay Sep 26, 2023
Document icon Vol. dismissal of appeal Sep 29, 2023
    Name Last Modified
Document icon Application for stay Sep 13, 2023
Document icon Amicus brief of Nat'l Republican Redistricting Trust Sep 15, 2023
Document icon Amicus brief of members of Congress Sep 19, 2023
Document icon Plaintiffs' response Sep 19, 2023
Document icon Reply Sep 20, 2023
Document icon Order denying stay Sep 26, 2023
    Name Last Modified
Document icon 1st amd. complaint Jan 31, 2024
Document icon Motion to dismiss Feb 14, 2024
Document icon Opposition Mar 7, 2024
Document icon US statement of interest Mar 14, 2024
Document icon Reply Mar 21, 2024
Highlighted document Document icon Opinion denying motion to dismiss Jul 11, 2024

Map | Challenged 2021 congressional map

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Map | Challenged remedial map

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Additional Cases

PENDING - Supreme Court affirmed challenge to congressional maps under the Voting Rights Act.
Cycle 2020
PENDING - Federal court challenge to congressional districts: VRA violations, intentional raical discrimination
Cycle 2020