TRIAL BEGINS MONDAY IN MALDEF CHALLENGE TO TEXAS REDISTRICTING PLAN

MALDEF

July 7, 2017

San Antonio, TX - MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) will represent the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force and 17 individual Latino voters at a five-day trial starting Monday challenging the Texas Legislature’s 2013 redistricting plan for the Texas House. That plan reduces the ability of Latinos to elect the candidates of their choice in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act.

WHAT: Trial challenging Texas’ 2013 redistricting plan as intentionally discriminatory

WHO: Nina Perales, vice president for litigation, MALDEF

WHEN: 8:00 a.m., Monday, July 10, 2017

WHERE: John H. Wood, Jr. Courthouse
Courtroom No. 1, First Floor
655 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.
San Antonio, Texas 78206

BACKGROUND: The Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force, represented by MALDEF, sued the state after the Legislature drew voting district boundaries in 2011 that diluted the ability of Latino voters to elect candidates of their choice. Court rulings agreed that the redistricting plan violated the federal Voting Rights Act, and the maps were redrawn under court supervision in 2013. MALDEF, on behalf of the task force and 17 individual Latino voters, will argue before the three-judge panel this week that the 2013 redistricting plan approved by the Texas Legislature included changes to the interim court-drawn remedial plan that violate the federal Voting Rights Act.

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the "Latino Legal Voice for Civil Rights in America" MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.