Lopez v. Merced County, Cal.

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW RE: PLAINTIFFS’ APPLICATION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

I. INTRODUCTION

This case comes before a three-judge court, under § 5 of the Voting Rights Act (“VRA”). 42 U.S.C. § 1973c (“Section 5”). Plaintiffs challenge numerous annexations, detachments, consolidations and/or formations to cities and special districts in the County of Merced, California, adopted since November 1, 1972. On November 21, 2006, Circuit Judge Jay S. Bybee and District Judges Oliver W. Wanger and Anthony W. Ishii, appointed to the three-judge panel by the Chief Judge of the Circuit…