Case: United States of America v. Galveston County, Texas

3:22-cv-00093 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Filed Date: March 24, 2022

Closed Date: June 1, 2022

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case about alleged racial gerrymandering in the state of Texas.  On May 24, 2022, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Attorney General's Office filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The U.S. sued Galveston County, the Galveston County Commissioners Court (the county's governing body), and the presiding officer of the Galveston County Commissioners Court. It alleged that the voting ma…

This is a case about alleged racial gerrymandering in the state of Texas. 

On May 24, 2022, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Attorney General's Office filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The U.S. sued Galveston County, the Galveston County Commissioners Court (the county's governing body), and the presiding officer of the Galveston County Commissioners Court. It alleged that the voting maps for the County Commissioners Court adopted during the 2021 redistricting process were racially gerrymandered to reduce the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters, in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The U.S. sought declaratory relief and an injunction requiring new election maps.

The U.S. filed an amended complaint on June 1, 2022. On the same day, District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown issued an order consolidating this case with two others challenging the 2021 redistricting process, Petteway v. Galveston County and Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP, et al., v. Galveston County, et al., and designating Petteway as the lead case. See the summary for the Petteway case for a more thorough discussion of the redistricting process, arguments in the case, and updates since the consolidation.

Summary Authors

Logan Moore (11/13/2024)

Related Cases

Petteway v. Galveston County, Southern District of Texas (2022)

Dickinson Bay Area Branch NAACP v. Galveston County, Southern District of Texas (2022)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63185040/parties/united-states-v-galveston-county-texas-do-not-docket-in-this-case-case/

Documents in the Clearinghouse
1

3:22-cv-00093

Complaint

United States of America v. Galveston County

March 24, 2022

March 24, 2022

Complaint
30

3:22-cv-00093

First Amended Complaint

May 31, 2022

May 31, 2022

Complaint
32

3:22-cv-00093

Order

United States v. Galveston County

June 1, 2022

June 1, 2022

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63185040/united-states-v-galveston-county-texas-do-not-docket-in-this-case-case/

Last updated April 13, 2026, 4:44 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 March 24, 2022

COMPLAINT against All Defendants filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3)(Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 03/24/2022)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Exhibit 1

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3 Exhibit 2

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4 Exhibit 3

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RECAP
2 March 25, 2022

Request for Issuance of Summons as to All Defendants, filed. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons)(Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

RECAP
3 March 25, 2022

MOTION for Catherine Meza to Appear Pro Hac Vice by United States of America, filed. Motion Docket Date 4/15/2022. (Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

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4 March 25, 2022

MOTION for Tharuni A. Jayaraman to Appear Pro Hac Vice by United States of America, filed. Motion Docket Date 4/15/2022. (Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

RECAP
5 March 25, 2022

MOTION for Robert S. Berman to Appear Pro Hac Vice by United States of America, filed. Motion Docket Date 4/15/2022. (Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

RECAP
6 March 25, 2022

MOTION for Bruce I. Gear to Appear Pro Hac Vice by United States of America, filed. Motion Docket Date 4/15/2022. (Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

RECAP
7 March 25, 2022

MOTION for Zachary Newkirk to Appear Pro Hac Vice by United States of America, filed. Motion Docket Date 4/15/2022. (Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

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8 March 25, 2022

Summons Issued as to All Defendants. Issued summons delivered to plaintiff by NEF, filed.(CynthiaBenavides, 3) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

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9 March 25, 2022

ORDER for Initial Pretrial and Scheduling Conference and Order to Disclose Interested Persons. Initial Conference set for 7/13/2022 at 09:00 AM in by video before Magistrate Judge Andrew M Edison(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(CynthiaBenavides, 3) (Entered: 03/25/2022)

RECAP
10 April 4, 2022

RETURN of Service of SUMMONS Executed as to Galveston County Commissioners Court served on 4/4/2022, answer due 4/25/2022, filed.(CynthiaBenavides, 3) (Entered: 04/04/2022)

RECAP
11 April 4, 2022

RETURN of Service of SUMMONS Executed as to Mark Henry served on 4/4/2022, answer due 4/25/2022, filed.(CynthiaBenavides, 3) (Entered: 04/04/2022)

RECAP
12 April 4, 2022

RETURN of Service of SUMMONS Executed as to Galveston County, Texas served on 4/4/2022, answer due 4/25/2022, filed.(CynthiaBenavides, 3) (Entered: 04/04/2022)

RECAP
13 April 4, 2022

CERTIFICATE OF INTERESTED PARTIES by United States of America, filed.(Hu, Daniel) (Entered: 04/04/2022)

RECAP
14 April 20, 2022

NOTICE of Appearance by Dallin B. Holt on behalf of Galveston County Commissioners Court, Galveston County, Texas, Mark Henry, filed. (Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 04/20/2022)

RECAP
15 April 20, 2022

Agreed MOTION for Extension of Time To File Responsive Pleading by Galveston County Commissioners Court, Galveston County, Texas, Mark Henry, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/11/2022. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 04/20/2022)

1 Proposed Order

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RECAP
16 April 25, 2022

ORDER granting 15 Motion for Extension of Time; Motion-related deadline set re: 15 Agreed MOTION for Extension of Time To File Responsive Pleading. Answer due by 5/16/2022.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 04/25/2022)

RECAP
17 May 10, 2022

MOTION for Jason B. Torchinsky to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Galveston County Commissioners Court, Galveston County, Texas, Mark Henry, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/31/2022. (Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 05/10/2022)

RECAP
18 May 10, 2022

MOTION for Shawn T. Sheehy to Appear Pro Hac Vice by Galveston County Commissioners Court, Galveston County, Texas, Mark Henry, filed. Motion Docket Date 5/31/2022. (Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 05/10/2022)

RECAP
19 May 11, 2022

ORDER granting 3 Motion for Catherine Meza to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/11/2022)

RECAP
20 May 11, 2022

ORDER granting 4 Motion for Tharuni A. Jayaraman to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/11/2022)

RECAP
21 May 11, 2022

ORDER granting 5 Motion for Robert S. Berman to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/11/2022)

RECAP
22 May 11, 2022

ORDER granting 6 Motion for Bruce I. Gear to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/11/2022)

RECAP
23 May 11, 2022

ORDER granting 7 Motion for Zachary Newkirk to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/11/2022)

RECAP
24 May 11, 2022

ORDER granting 17 Motion for Jason B. Torchinsky to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/11/2022)

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25 May 11, 2022

ORDER granting 18 Motion for Shawn T. Sheehy to Appear Pro Hac Vice.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/11/2022)

RECAP
26 May 13, 2022

DESIGNATION of Catherine Meza as attorney in charge of United States of America, filed.(Meza, Catherine) (Entered: 05/13/2022)

RECAP
27 May 17, 2022

Opposed MOTION to Stay by Galveston County Commissioners Court, Galveston County, Texas, Mark Henry, filed. Motion Docket Date 6/7/2022. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Holt, Dallin) (Entered: 05/17/2022)

1 Proposed Order

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RECAP
28 May 24, 2022

ORDER denying 27 Motion to Stay.(Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(GeorgeCardenas, 4) (Entered: 05/24/2022)

RECAP
29 May 25, 2022

NOTICE of Appearance by Joseph R. Russo, Jr., Angie Olalde, Jordan Raschke on behalf of Galveston County Commissioners Court, Galveston County, Texas, Mark Henry, filed. (Russo, Joseph) (Entered: 05/25/2022)

RECAP
30 May 31, 2022

First AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Defendants filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3)(Meza, Catherine) (Entered: 05/31/2022)

1 Exhibit 1

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2 Exhibit 2

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3 Exhibit 3

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RECAP
31 June 1, 2022

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE of 30 Amended Complaint/Counterclaim/Crossclaim etc. by United States of America, filed.(Meza, Catherine) (Entered: 06/01/2022)

RECAP
32 June 1, 2022

ORDER TO CONSOLIDATE CASES and Member Case No. 3:22-cv-93 (Signed by Judge Jeffrey V Brown) Parties notified.(agould, 3) (Entered: 06/01/2022)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Texas

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 24, 2022

Closing Date: June 1, 2022

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States government

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

County

Galveston County

Galveston County Commissioners Court

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)

Other Dockets:

Southern District of Texas 3:22-cv-00093

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Granted:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):

Hispanic

Affected Race(s):

Black

Voting:

Redistricting/district composition

Vote dilution

Recommended Citation