Larry v. Arkansas
The publisher of an Arkansas a community newspaper is challenging the constitutionality of Arkansas’ First Congressional District, claiming that the district reflects a racially discriminatory intent and violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Note: The Brennan Center is not a participant in this case.
Case Background
An Arkansas community newspaper publisher filed suit claiming that the state’s First Congressional District violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, as well as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiff claims that the legislature intentionally drew the lines of the First Congressional District to dilute African-American voters’ opportunity to elect their candidates of choice and to discriminate against those voters because of their race.
The plaintiff is asking the court to enjoin the state from using the current congressional plan in any elections and to require the state to adopt a new plan. The plaintiff is also asking the court to suspend the congressional primaries until a new map is approved.
On April 23, the court granted the state’s motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendment claims for lack of standing. The court convened a three-judge panel to adjudicate the plaintiff’s Section 2 claim.
On August 3, the panel dismissed the plaintiff’s Section 2 claim for lack of standing.
On August 20, the plaintiffs appealed the panel’s decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. On December 10, 2018, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
Documents
District Court
- Complaint and Request for Three Judge Panel (February 9, 2018)
- Order (February 12, 2018)
- Motion for Extension of Time to File Court Ordered Brief (February 22, 2018)
- Order Granting Motion for Extension of Time (February 23, 2018)
- Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by Defendant State of Arkansas (February 26, 2018)
- Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss by Defendant State of Arkansas (February 26, 2018)
- Motion to Dismiss by Defendant Secretary of State Mark Martin (March 2, 2018)
- Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss by Defendant Secretary of State Mark Martin (March 2, 2018)
- Memorandum Brief Concerning Three-Judge Panel by Defendant Secretary of State Mark Martin (March 2, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Response in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss and Motion for Leave to Amend Original Complaint (March 5, 2018)
- Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by Arkansas Legislature (March 5, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Response in Opposition to Defendant Secretary of State Mark Martin’s Motion to Dismiss (March 9, 2018)
- Reply to Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction by Defendant State of Arkansas (March 12, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Brief in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction (March 14, 2018)
- Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss by Defendant Secretary of State Mark Martin (March 14, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Supplemental Request for Three-Judge Panel (March 15, 2018)
- Response to Plaintiffs’ Supplemental Request by Defendant Secretary of State Mark Martin (March 23, 2018)
- Response to Plaintiffs’ Supplemental Request by Defendant State of Arkansas (March 28, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Reply to Defendants’ Response to Plaintiffs’ Supplemental Request for Three-Judge Panel (April 9, 2018)
- Order (April 23, 2018)
- Joint Proposed Expedited Scheduling Report (April 30, 2018)
- Order Granting Three-Judge Panel (May 1, 2018)
- Amended Joint Scheduling Report (May 4, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Motion for Leave to File First Amended Original Complaint (June 1, 2018)
- State Defendants’ Response in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint (June 14, 2018)
- Defendant Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin’s Response to Plaintiff’s Motion to File Amended Complaint (June 14, 2018)
- Defendant Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin’s Memorandum Brief in Support of Response to Plaintiff’s Motion to File Amended Complaint (June 14, 2018)
- Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendants’ Response in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint (June 22, 2018)
- Order (August 3, 2018)
- Plaintiff’s Motion for Reconsideration and Appointment of a Special Master (August 13, 2018)
- Notice of Appeal (August 20, 2018)
- Order Dismissing Motion for Reconsideration and Appointment of a Special Master (October 12, 2018)
- Amended Judgment Dismissing All Claims (October 12, 2018)
U.S. Supreme Court
- Jurisdictional Statement (October 3, 2018)
- Appellees’ Motion to Dismiss or Affirm (November 5, 2018)
- Order Dismissing Appeal (December 10, 2018)