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No. 17-333October Term 2017Decided Jun 18, 2018

Docket 17-333October Term 2017 (2017–2018)

Besinek v. Lamone

Republican voters challenged Maryland’s 2011 redesign of the Sixth Congressional District, claiming state officials redrew it to punish them for supporting Republican candidates and to weaken their voting power.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 18, 2018
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedJun 18, 2018
What it's about

Republican voters challenged Maryland’s 2011 redesign of the Sixth Congressional District, claiming state officials redrew it to punish them for supporting Republican candidates and to weaken their voting power. In reviewing the denial of a preliminary injunction, the Supreme Court was asked what voters must prove to show injury and causation in a First Amendment challenge to a partisan gerrymander.

Question presented

1. Did the majority err in holding that, to establish an actual, concrete injury in a First Amendment retaliation challenge to a partisan gerrymander, a plaintiff must prove that the gerrymander has dictated and will continue to dictate the outcome of every election held in the district under the gerrymandered map? 2. Did the majority err in holding that the Mt. Healthy burden-shifting framework is inapplicable to First Amendment retaliation challenges to partisan gerrymanders? 3. Regardless of the applicable legal standards, did the majority err in holding that the present record does not permit a finding that the 2011 gerrymander was a but-for cause of the Democratic victories in the district in 2012, 2014, or 2016?

Case path

United States District Court for the District of Maryland / Decision released Jun 18, 2018

Area

First Amendment, Elections

Timing

Decided June 18, 2018

The Court released its decision on June 18, 2018 without hearing oral argument.

Grounding

Grounding
Primary-source trail available.
Note
Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
Checked
Jul 3, 2026
Primary materials5