Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Mexican American Legislative
Caucus Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer announced earlier today that the
Texas redistricting plaintiffs have selected MALC Lead Counsel Jose Garza to argue before the United States Supreme Court on January 9th 2012. Jose Garza brings decades of successful redistricting and voting rights litigation experience to the plaintiffs case.
Jose Garzas skill as an oral advocate expertise as a voting rights litigator and past experience arguing in the U.S. Supreme Court means that the appellees will have top-notch representation on argument day" stated Nina Perales Vice President of Litigation for MALDEF.
From the House floor to the court room MALC has taken the lead to increase minority opportunity throughout the state. As a leading Latino policy organization MALC actively engaged in the redistricting and litigation process from its onset.
MALC successfully intervened and contributed to the dismissal of the first redistricting case of the cycle filed in federal district court in Sherman Texas
Teuber et al. v. State of Texas et al. The dismissal reasserted the clear Constitutional requirement that all residents must be acknowledged in the census and redistricting process.
It was a clear victory for
MALC and Texas Latinos. But we did not stop there MALC filed its own redistricting lawsuit in San Antonio federal district court citing numerous violations of the Voting Rights Act and challenging the states failure to address an undercount of Latinos throughout Texas.
MALC also filed a state court action in Hidalgo County citing several violations of the state constitution in the creation of the State House and Congressional map. Our federal court filing received the first 3-judge
panel in the state and MALC successfully worked to consolidate and transfer all cases to the San Antonio federal district court.
Further as MALC Lead Counsel Jose Garza provided leadership at trial and together with our counterparts argued a strong case against the State showing the need for maps that recognize the tremendous growth of the Latino community in Texas.
The litigation victories are not just in Texas. MALC has also intervened in the State of Texas pre-clearance suit in federal district court in Washington D.C. We argued against granting pre-clearance to the new maps during a D.C. hearing regarding the States motion for summary judgment.
Following the hearing the D.C. Court not only denied the motion for summary judgment but also brought into question the State of Texas standards regarding the creation of minority opportunity seats.
This case is headed for trial in late-January.
From the House floor to Sherman San Antonio Washington D.C. and now the United States Supreme Court MALC has been at the forefront of the debate and litigation. We are proud of the continued efforts of the MALC redistricting litigation team including lead counsel Jose Garza Pamela S. Karlan Joaquin G. Avila Ricardo G. Cedillo Laura M. Clark Mark W. Kiehne and Martin Golando. Under the leadership of
MALC Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer and the MALC Executive Committee we have worked to bring consensus and unity between the plaintiffs and ensure that Texas elected officials reflect the growing diversity of this state.
