Thompson v. Crittenden

Note: The Brennan Center is not a participant in this case.

Case Background

Eleven Democratic voters filed a lawsuit against the State of Georgia claiming that the 2015 state house plan violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs claim that Republicans in the General Assembly redesigned two state legislative districts – House Districts 105 and 111— during a mid-decade redistricting to decrease the influence of African-American voting strength. The group also contends that Republicans improperly failed to draw a legislative district in the Atlanta area that could have elected an African-American candidate.

The plaintiffs have asked the court to invalidate the districts and mandate the creation of at least one majority-minority district in the metro-Atlanta area.

On October 6, the defendant, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, filed a motion to consolidate the case with Georgia State Conference of the NAACP v. Georgia on the grounds that both cases challenge the same legislation and assert claims that are premised on the same or closely related legal theories. 

On November 13, Defendant Brian Kemp filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ discriminatory intent claim and violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act claim, and raised standing objections. The court has yet to rule on the motion. 

After the court consolidated this case with Georgia State Conference of the NAACP v. Georgia, the court ordered discovery to begin on the racial gerrymandering claims. On March 9, discovery relating to the racial gerrymandering claims concluded. Discovery on the remaining section 2 claims will conclude on October 12. 

On June 1, the court denied the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.

On September 4, 2018, the court granted the plaintiffs’ request to amend their complaint to include partisan gerrymandering claims. 

On January 16, 2019, the court granted the parties’ joint motion to dismiss the case with prejudice.

Documents

District Court 

• Complaint (October 3, 2017)   
• Notice of Claim of Unconstitutionality (October 3, 2017) 
• Notice of Related Case (October 6, 2017)
• Order (October 12, 2017) 
• Plaintiffs’ Notice Regarding Consolidation (October 25, 2017)
• Order (October 27, 2017)
• First Amended Complaint (October 27, 2017) 
• Order on Motion to Consolidate Cases (November 1, 2017)
• Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Thompson Plaintiffs’ First Amendment Claims in Party (November 13, 2017)
• Proposed Scheduling Order of Defendant Brian Kemp (November 16, 2017)
• Motion for Expedited Entry of Plaintiffs Proposed Scheduling Order and Memorandum in Support (November 17, 2017)
• Scheduling Order (November 20, 2017)
• Defendants’ Motion for Slight Modification of Scheduling Order (November 20, 2017) 
• Thompson Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (November 27, 2017) 
• Scheduling Order (November 28, 2017)
• Defendants’ Reply Brief in Support of Partial Motion to Dismiss (December 11, 2017)
• Plaintiffs Notice of and Motion for Preliminary Injunction Expedited Treatment and Oral Argument Requested (February 20, 2018)
• Proposed Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (February 20, 2018)
• Order (February 21, 2018) 
• Opinion and Order (February 23, 2018)
• Defendant’s Answer to Thompson Plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint (March 9, 2018)
• Consent Motion to Extend Deadlines for Response to Motion for Preliminary Injunction (March 20, 2018)
• Defendant’s Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (March 26, 2018) 
• Order on Motion for Extension of Time (March 28, 2018)
• Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan (April 9, 2018)
• Reply Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction (April 9, 2018)
• Scheduling Order (April 11, 2018) 
• Response to Plaintiffs’ Objections to Declarations Offered by Defendant in Response to Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (April 18, 2018)
• Motion for Leave to Submit Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (April 23, 2018) 
• Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (April 23, 2018)
• Opinion and Order (June 1, 2018) 
• Joint Motion for Extension of Deadlines in Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan (June 7, 2018)
• Order Granting the Parties’ Joint Motion for Extension of Deadlines in Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan (June 11, 2018)
• Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (July 13, 2018)
• Thompson Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (July 14, 2018)
• Defendant’s Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (July 27, 2018)
• Defendant’s Brief in Opposition to Thompson Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (July 30, 2018)
• Reply Brief in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (August 10, 2018)
• Reply Brief in Support of Thompson Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (August 13, 2018)
• Memorandum Opinion and Order (September 4, 2018)
• First Amended Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief (September 11, 2018)
• Second Amended Complaint (September 13, 2018)
• Expert Reply Report of Richard Engstrom (October 19, 2018)
• Third Expert Report of William S. Cooper (October 19, 2018)
• Defendant’s Answer to NAACP Plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint (November 5, 2018)
• Defendant’s Answer to Thompson Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint (November 5, 2018)
• Joint Stipulation and Consent Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice (January 14, 2019)
• Order Granting Joint Stipulation and Consent Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice (January 16, 2019)