Case Summary
Southern Coalition for Social Justice filed this challenge to Tennessee's congressional and state Senate districts on behalf of five organizations (Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP, League of Women Voters of Tennessee, The Equity Alliance, Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute, African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee) and five individuals (Judy Cummings, Brenda Gilmore, Ophelia Doe, Frea Player, and Ruby Powell-Dennis). Co-counsel include Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Sperling & Slater and Winston & Strawn LLP.
In their complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, plaintiffs challenge the new voting plans as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders and as intentionally racially discriminatory in violation of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Defendants' motion to dismiss was heard on May 24, 2024. On Sept. 25, 2024, the motion to dismiss was granted. Though plaintiffs disagree with the decision and the harm caused by these maps, they decided to not appeal the decision and shift focus to empowering voters across Tennessee.
Why it's Important
The lawsuit alleges that North Carolina's legislature did not give meaningful consideration to public testimony and was well aware that its proposed redistricting changes in Davidson and Shelby counties would dilute the votes of and adversely impact Black voters and other voters of color in those counties.
