North Carolina State Conference of NAACP Branches v. Lewis
On February 21, 2018, civil rights groups in North Carolina and several North Carolina residents filed a lawsuit challenging four state house districts redrawn in the 2017 remedial plan. The plaintiffs contend the mid-decade redistricting changes to the districts violates the state constitution.
Note: The Brennan Center is not a participant in this case.
Case Background
A number of civil rights organizations in North Carolina and Wake County residents filed a challenge to four state house districts in Wake County that were drawn in the 2017 remedial redistricting plan as a result of North Carolina v. Covington. The plaintiffs argue that the newly drawn districts violate the state constitution’s prohibition against mid-decade redistricting. The plaintiffs claim that lawmakers went beyond what the federal court directed and altered districts that did not need to be redrawn to remedy the racial gerrymanders.
On February 21, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin the defendants from conducting elections in the four state house districts to return the districts to their 2011 boundaries for the 2018 elections.
On April 13, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction.
On May 1, the plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment, asking the court to declare that the Wake County house districts in the 2017 remedial plan violate the state constitution’s prohibition against mid-decade redistricting.
On November 2, the Wake County Superior Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment and ordered the NC General Assembly to revise the plan for use in the 2020 general election.
Documents
Wake County Superior Court
- Complaint (February 21, 2018)
- Motion for Preliminary Injunction (February 21, 2018)
- Scheduling Order (March 7, 2018)
- Memorandum in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction (April 2, 2018)
- Order (April 13, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment (May 1, 2018)
- Plaintiffs’ Calendar Request and Motion for Scheduling Order (May 3, 2018)
- Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment (November 2, 2018)