Bethune Hill v. Virginia State Board of Elections
The NRF supported voter plaintiffs in a racial gerrymandering case in Virginia that successfully challenged the Virginia House of Delegates districts drawn in 2011. Though the district court initially concluded the challenged districts were not racial gerrymanders in violation of the Equal Protection Clause, the Supreme Court vacated this finding in 2017, holding that the district court had applied the wrong legal standard in its analysis and remanding the case for consideration under the correct standard. On remand, the district court panel found that the state had violated the Equal Protection Clause with respect to 11 challenged districts. The court ordered the Virginia legislature to draw a new map. Because the legislature failed to pass a remedial map on its own, however, the court appointed a special master to assist and advise the court in preparing a new district map. In February 2019, after giving the parties an opportunity to respond to a proposal, the court ordered the state to implement the special masters final map. The parties defending the map appealed the district court’s ruling to the Supreme Court. On June 18, 2019, the Supreme Court held that the House of Delegates lacked standing and dismissed the case.
Ensure Every Voice Counts
The National Redistricting Foundation works to advance fair representation, so voters—not political interests—shape our democracy.
