David L. LaPorte obtained summary judgment for the City of Aurora in a lawsuit brought by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleged that the way the City redistricted its aldermanic wards after the 2000 census diluted Latino voting strength in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause to the U.S. Constitution. MALDEF alleged that the Ward Map “packed” the Latino population into one or two wards when it was possible to draw the Ward Map so that Latinos would comprise an effective majority in at least one additional ward. The City of Aurora argued, and the Court agreed, that the manner in which the Ward Map was drawn provided the Latino population in Aurora with a fair opportunity to elect their candidate of choice in proportion to their voting strength.
If you have questions or would like more information regarding this matter, please contact Dave LaPorte directly at dlaporte@querrey.com.
