Person v. Cooney

CANBY, Circuit Judge:

Eleven American Indian plaintiffs appeal the district court’s judgment in favor of the defendants, the Governor and Secretary of State of Montana. The plaintiffs contend that the 1992 redistricting plan for Montana’s State House of Representatives and Senate dilutes the voting strength of American Indians in violation of § 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. § 1973. Plaintiffs further urge that Montana’s Districting and Apportionment Commission adopted the 1992 redistricting plan with a discriminatory purpose, an action that would also violate § 2 of the Voting…