Election Law and Redistricting Group

Election Law and Redistricting Group

 

The electoral process is governed by state and federal statutes, rules and regulations.  Whether you are a candidate, elected official, staff member, political action committee or nonprofit political organization, you need expert counsel to navigate the laws governing the electoral process.  Troutman Sanders LLP’s Election Law and Redistricting Group exists to meet your needs in this specialized field of law.  

 

The Group includes a former Attorney General, a former Chief of Staff to a governor, a former Deputy Attorney General and Commissioner with the United States Commission on Civil Rights and a former Solicitor General.  Members of the group also currently serve on State redistricting commissions and as counsel to redistricting commissions. 

 

The Group has extensive experience representing clients in election law disputes before the United States Supreme Court and in state and federal courts across the country, as well as before various government bodies.  Because of its expertise in these matters, the Group’s attorneys are equipped to handle any election law challenge or redistricting issue that you face. 

 

 

Members

Mark H. Cohen 600 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 5200 Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2216 404.885.3597 telephone 404.962.6753 facsimile   Anthony “Tony” F. Troy Troutman Sanders Building 1001 Haxall Point Richmond, Virginia 23219 804.697.1318 telephone 804.698.5162 facsimile   Ashley L. Taylor Jr. Troutman Sanders Building 1001 Haxall Point Richmond, Virginia 23219 804.697.1286 telephone 804.698.6018 facsimile   William H. Hurd Troutman Sanders Building 1001 Haxall Point Richmond, Virginia 23219 804.697.1335 telephone 804.698.6058 facsimile

Carter Glass IV Troutman Sanders Building 1001 Haxall Point Richmond, Virginia 23219 804.697.1203 telephone 804.697.1339 facsimile   DeWitt Rogers 600 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 5200 Atlanta, GA 30308-2216 404.885.3412 telephone 404.962.6671 facsimile   Kevin G. Meeks 600 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 5200 Atlanta, GA 30308-2216 404.885.3719 telephone 404.962.6605 facsimile   Stephen C. Piepgrass Troutman Sanders Building 1001 Haxall Point Richmond, Virginia 23219 804.697.1320 telephone 804.698.5147 facsimile

 

 

 

Representative Experience

• Secured U.S. Supreme Court approval of redistricting plans in a landmark Voting Rights Act appeal.  Georgia v. Ashcroft, 539 U.S. 461 (2003)
• Successfully defended constitutional challenges to a voter ID requirement.  Common Cause/Ga. v. Billups, 554 F.3d 1340 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 129 U.S. 2770 (2009), and Lake v. Perdue, 282 Ga. 348 (2007)
• Representation of the State of Georgia in defending congressional and legislative redistricting plans against one person, one vote challenge. Larios v. Cox, 314 F. Supp. 2d 1357 (N.D. Ga. 2004); Larios v. Cox, 300 F. Supp. 2d 1320 (N.D. Ga. 2004) (three-judge court), aff’d Cox v. Larios, 124 S. Ct. 2806 (2004).
• Representation of the State of Georgia in seeking a declaratory judgment that legislative redistricting plans did not violate Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.  Georgia v. Ashcroft, 195 F. Supp. 2d 25 (D.D.C. 2002)
• Lead advisor to Georgia General Assembly in formulating reapportionment plans for U.S. congressional and state legislative districts (1991-1992)
• Legal Advisor, Virginia Independent Bipartisan Committee on Redistricting (2011)
• Represented non-partisan Military Voters Protection Project in obtaining landmark injunction requiring Maryland election officials to extend deadline for receipt of absentee ballots from overseas and military voters (2010).
• Represented non-partisan civic group in obtaining injunction requiring Virginia election officials to make voter history lists available for purpose of encouraging voter participation (2010).
• Represented McCain-Palin campaign in obtaining injunction requiring preservation and accounting of “late” military absentee ballots (2008).
• Lead counsel in statewide election recount for Attorney General of Virginia (2005).
• Lead counsel in statewide election recount for Governor of Virginia (1989).
• Defended city council in federal suit under Section 2 of Voting Rights Act challenging at-large system for electing members of city council.  Lincoln v. City of Virginia Beach.
• Defended county board of supervisors in federal suit alleging vote dilution under Section 2 of Voting Rights Act challenging single-member election districts and remedial plan adopted by county.  Taylor v. Forrester.
• Defended county board of supervisors in federal suit under Section 2 of Voting Rights Act challenging single-member election districts and remedial plan adopted by county.  Henderson v. Board of Supervisors.
• Defended city council in federal suit under Section 2 of Voting Rights Act challenging election plan.  Person v. Ligon.
• Represented members of city council in state court suit seeking removal of members from office for alleged violations of state law.  In re Voters of the City of Newport News v. Frank.
• Represented treasurer and commissioner of revenue in state court action challenging action denying ballot access for general election.  Fitzpatrick v. State Board of Elections.
• Represented city council members in state court action to enjoin redistricting of city election districts in violation of state law prohibiting redistricting except after decennial census.  Folts v. City of Richmond.
• Represented cities, counties, and towns in Section 5 preclearance matters before U.S. Department of Justice involving redistricting plans, annexations and other changes of boundaries, changes in methods of selecting public officials, change in structure from city to town status, relocation of polling places, and timing of special referenda.
• Represented county in securing legislative amendment to state redistricting law permitting county to exclude large prison population in drawing election districts having equal population.