Pasadena Voting Rights Case Moving To Trial

PASADENA, TX — A lawsuit challenging Pasadena's city council districts will proceed to trial. The lawsuit challenges a redistricting plan that activists allege unfairly dilutes the voting rights of the city's Hispanic and Latino residents.

The lawsuit stems from a 2013 redistricting that saw the city implement races for six single-member districts and two at-large seats, instead of the eight single-member seats that had been in place.

Pasadena's attorneys argued, in a motion for summary judgment, that the new method allows the Hispanic and Latino population to to elect four members — three representatives from majority Hispanic and Latino districts and an at-large candidate.

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Judge Lee Rosenthal rejected that argument. Instead he sided with the plaintiffs, who contend that the Hispanic and Latino population had a better chance of electing four representatives from concentrated districts.

The plaintiffs argue that the at-large districts are unfair because, citywide, white residents tend to vote at greater rates than Hispanic voters, which potentially gives white candidates an edge.

The trial is scheduled for November.

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