Firm Represents Plaintiffs in Florida Redistricting Trial
September, 2023 - New York, New York
On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, oral arguments began in the trial of Common Cause Florida et al v. Byrd, a case challenging Florida’s gerrymandered congressional map. The plaintiffs argue Governor Ron DeSantis pressured state lawmakers to approve voting districts that prevent North Florida’s Black voters from having the opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice.
Patterson Belknap partner Gregory Baker delivered opening arguments on behalf of the plaintiffs, outlining how the 2022 federal congressional map discriminates against Black voters and violates the 14th and 15th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Following the opening arguments, Patterson Belknap Of Counsel Greg Diskant questioned Alex Kelly, Governor DeSantis’s acting Chief of Staff, about the 2022 redistricting.
Patterson Belknap, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and the NAACP Office of General Counsel are representing Common Cause Florida, FairDistricts Now, the NAACP Florida State Conference, and individual co-plaintiffs.
To read press on the trial, please click here and here.
To read Common Cause Florida’s press release on the trial, please click here.
