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THREE JUDGE FEDERAL PANEL RULES IN FAVOR OF SECRETARY OF STATE

On November 19, 2012, a three judge federal panel ruled in favor of the position of the Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and other defendants, denying the motion of the NAACP to set aside 2011 statewide legislative elections and order new special legislative elections in 2013.  On December 17, 2012, the panel entered a final judgment dismissing the NAACP’s entire case.  The case began with the NAACP’s filing of the initial complaint on March 17, 2011, requesting newly drawn legislative districts for the 2011 statewide legislative elections.  The three judge panel agreed with the Secretary that Mississippi had until 2012 to redistrict, and on May 16, 2011, ordered the 2011 elections to proceed under existing legislative districts.  On October 31, 2011, that decision was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.  With the recent rulings, the federal courts have now agreed with the position of the Secretary at all stages of the litigation. 

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