No. 17-333October Term 2017Decided Jun 18, 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
- 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.
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology