Robles

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In the interests of brevity, we summarize the factual background in light of the issues relevant to the appeal. While we have reviewed the entire record, we have not included every underlying fact or step in the trial court litigation. A. Commencement of Litigation In January 2020, plaintiffs’ attorney sent a letter to the city asking the city council to transition from its at-large method of electing council members to election by district. The letter contended that the at-large

1 Subsequent statutory references are to the Elections Code unless otherwise indicated.

2 method of election diluted the electoral influence of Latinos as a community, and state and federal law required the council to adopt a map for district elections that increased the opportunity to influence elections for Latino, Asian, and Black voters. The letter asked for new districts to be drawn up in time for the 2020 election. In March, plaintiffs filed the instant lawsuit against the city, the city council, city officials, and individual council members (defendants), alleging violations of the CVRA, VRA, and title 42 United States Code section 1983. Plaintiffs…