LULAC Wins Suit Against Texas Two-Step
Federal judges unanimously side with LULAC.
August 25, 2009
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Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos
(202) 365-4553 mobile
Washington, DC – Today a three-judge federal panel headed by Judge Edward Prado of the 5th Circuit Court in West Texas issued an order denying the Texas Democratic Party’s motion for summary judgment and stated that section 5 of the Voting Rights Act applies to delegate selection rule changes made by the Texas Democratic Party. The decision was unanimous.
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the country, is pleased with the decision and will move ahead with the case.
“We will move forward quickly by asking the Democratic Party to submit its delegate selection process for pre-clearance by the U.S. Justice Department. LULAC will vigorously challenge that submission,” said LULAC Legal Advisor Luis Vera.
The federal panel answered two of the three questions submitted to them by the 5th circuit in favor of LULAC. The third question will be answered when LULAC files its motion for summary judgment asking the court to order the Texas Democratic Party to submit for pre- clearance of its delegate selection process. The order strongly suggests that the Texas Democratic Party voluntarily submit its delegate selection process to the Department of Justice for a pre- clearance review.
The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.