A federal court challenge to Illinois state legislature redistricting plans. In order to meet the June 30, 2021 deadline for new legislative maps, the Illinois state Legislature enacted maps, signed by Gov. Pritzker, using American Community Survey (ACS) data instead of decennial Census data (which were not available until mid-August). The Legislature adopted new maps, also signed by Gov. Pritzker, in September using official Census data.

The court assigned a three-judge panel and ordered the related case Contreras v. Ill. State Board of Elections to be heard concurrently. Plaintiff’s moved for summary judgment and Defendants—the Legislature and state Board of Elections—moved to dismiss the action (see BOE MTD and Welch MTD). The court denied the motions to dismiss and granted the Plaintiff’s summary judgment in part. The court denied the Plaintiff’s request to order new maps drawn by a commission. The court held the June Redistricting Plan violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and enjoined the defendants from enacting that plan.

The court will use September Redistricting Plan as a starting point to finalize a legislative redistricting plan. Plaintiffs have until November 8 to propose revisions to the September Redistricting Plan. The defendants will have until November 18th to respond or object to those revisions.

On December 30th the Court held the September Redistricting Plan did not violate the Voting Rights Act or the Constitution.