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Case Name
Project Vote/Voting for America v. Long
VR-VA-0062
Docket / Court
2:10-cv-00075-RBS-DEM ( E.D. Va. )
State/Territory
Virginia
Case Type(s)
Election/Voting Rights
Case Summary
On February 16, 2010, Project Vote, a nonprofit organization working to mobilize underrepresented voters, brought suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Virginia against the state of Virginia. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the state's ...
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On February 16, 2010, Project Vote, a nonprofit organization working to mobilize underrepresented voters, brought suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Virginia against the state of Virginia. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the state's refusal to turn over certain voting records violated the rights granted to them under the National Voter Registration Act.
At the district level, arguments focused on whether Project Vote had appropriate standing and whether voter registration applications were accessible under the NVRA's public disclosure provision. The District Court (Judge Rebecca Smith) denied the state's motion to dismiss, finding in favor of the plaintiffs on each of those points (752 F.Supp.2d 697). Using the same logic, the District Court later granted a motion for summary judgment brought by the plaintiffs (813 F.Supp.2d 738), but also granted a stay pending appeal, holding that the defendant's and the public's injury without a stay outweighed the plaintiff's interest in immediate access to the records (275 F.R.D. 473).
The Fourth Circuit upheld the District Court's ruling, holding that voter registration applications were covered by the NVRA's general disclosure mandate (682 F.3d 331). On remand, the District Court determined appropriate attorney's fees (887 F.Supp.2d 704) and held that the injunction became effective on the day that the case was decided (889 F.Supp.2d 778).
Jonathan Forman - 06/23/2013
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Defendant-type
Jurisdiction-wide
General
Voting access
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Voting
Election administration
Voter registration rules
Causes of Action
State law
National Voter Registration Act ("Motor Voter law"), 52 U.S.C. § 20501 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg)
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
State of Virginia
Plaintiff Description
Non-partisan voting rights group seeking access to specific voter registration records
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Declaratory Judgment
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration
2013 - 2015
Filed
02/16/2010
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
E.D. Va.
01/31/2013
2:10-cv-00075-RBS-DEM
VR-VA-0062-9000.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
E.D. Va.
02/16/2010
Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief [ECF# 1]
VR-VA-0062-0002.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
03/26/2010
Defendants Long and Rodrigues' Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss [ECF# 9]
VR-VA-0062-0003.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
04/09/2010
Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss and Supporting Memorandum of Law [ECF# 19]
VR-VA-0062-0004.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
04/15/2010
Defendants Long and Rodrigues' Reply to Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [ECF# 23]
VR-VA-0062-0005.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
08/04/2010
Plaintiff Project Vote's Response to the August 2, 2010 Submission by Defendants [ECF# 25]
VR-VA-0062-0006.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
10/29/2010
Opinion (denying defendant's motion to dismiss) [ECF# 32]
(752 F.Supp.2d 697)
VR-VA-0062-0007.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
01/31/2011
Memorandum in Support of Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF# 48]
VR-VA-0062-0008.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
03/02/2011
Defendant Elisa Long's Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF# 52]
VR-VA-0062-0009.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
03/16/2011
Project Vote's Reply to Defendants' Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF# 54]
VR-VA-0062-0010.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
07/20/2011
Opinion (granting plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment) [ECF# 63]
(813 F.Supp.2d 738)
VR-VA-0062-0011.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
07/20/2011
Judgment in a Civil Case [ECF# 64]
VR-VA-0062-0012.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
07/25/2011
Defendants Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Stay Judgment [ECF# 67]
VR-VA-0062-0013.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
07/25/2011
Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Expedited Ruling [ECF# 69]
VR-VA-0062-0014.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
07/25/2011
Order (directing plaintiffs to file response to defendants' motion to stay judgment) [ECF# 71]
VR-VA-0062-0015.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
07/28/2011
Plaintiff Project Vote's Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Stay Pending Appeal [ECF# 73]
VR-VA-0062-0016.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
07/29/2011
Defendant's Reply in Support of Motion to Stay Judgment [ECF# 74]
VR-VA-0062-0017.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
08/01/2011
Order (staying judgment) [ECF# 75]
(275 F.R.D. 473)
VR-VA-0062-0018.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
08/03/2011
Memorandum of Law in Support of Plaintiff Project Vote's Motion to Recover Attorneys' Fees and Costs [ECF# 79]
VR-VA-0062-0019.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
08/10/2011
Consent Order (staying recovery of costs/fees pending appeal) [ECF# 80]
VR-VA-0062-0020.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
U.S. Court of Appeals
06/15/2012
Opinion [Ct. of App. ECF# 81]
(682 F.3d 331)
VR-VA-0062-0022.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
U.S. Court of Appeals
06/15/2012
Judgment [Ct. of App. ECF# 82]
VR-VA-0062-0023.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
08/22/2012
Opinion and Order [ECF# 99]
(887 F.Supp.2d 704)
VR-VA-0062-0021.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
08/22/2012
Memorandum Final Order [ECF# 100]
(889 F.Supp.2d 778)
VR-VA-0062-0024.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
09/20/2012
Order [ECF# 108]
VR-VA-0062-0025.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
U.S. Court of Appeals
01/07/2013
Order [Ct. of App. ECF# 113]
VR-VA-0062-0027.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
01/24/2013
Consent Decree [ECF# 113]
VR-VA-0062-0026.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
E.D. Va.
01/30/2013
Consent Decree [ECF# 114]
VR-VA-0062-0028.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
People
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Judges
Miller, Douglas E.
Court not on record
[Magistrate]
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VR-VA-0062-9000
Smith, Rebecca Beach
(E.D. Va.)
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VR-VA-0062-0007 | VR-VA-0062-0011 | VR-VA-0062-0015 | VR-VA-0062-0018 | VR-VA-0062-0020 | VR-VA-0062-0021 | VR-VA-0062-0024 | VR-VA-0062-0028 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Wilkinson, James Harvie III
(Fourth Circuit)
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VR-VA-0062-0022
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Bhalotra, Chhaya Malik
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-9000
Hallward-Driemeier, Douglas Harry
(District of Columbia)
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VR-VA-0062-0004 | VR-VA-0062-0006 | VR-VA-0062-0008 | VR-VA-0062-0010 | VR-VA-0062-0016 | VR-VA-0062-0019 | VR-VA-0062-0020 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Heard, Bradley Erik
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0002 | VR-VA-0062-0004 | VR-VA-0062-0006 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Idilbi, Jason Grassan
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0002 | VR-VA-0062-0004 | VR-VA-0062-0006 | VR-VA-0062-0008 | VR-VA-0062-9000
James, Teresa
(District of Columbia)
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VR-VA-0062-9000
Malone, Ryan Morland
(District of Columbia)
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VR-VA-0062-0002 | VR-VA-0062-0004 | VR-VA-0062-0006 | VR-VA-0062-0008 | VR-VA-0062-0010 | VR-VA-0062-0016 | VR-VA-0062-0019 | VR-VA-0062-0020 | VR-VA-0062-0026 | VR-VA-0062-0028 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Mellor, Brian Williams
(District of Columbia)
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VR-VA-0062-9000
Ripa, Augustine Martin
(District of Columbia)
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VR-VA-0062-0002 | VR-VA-0062-0004 | VR-VA-0062-0006 | VR-VA-0062-0008 | VR-VA-0062-0010 | VR-VA-0062-0016 | VR-VA-0062-0019 | VR-VA-0062-0020 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Sheffield, Yolanda
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0002 | VR-VA-0062-0004 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Stewart, David O.
(District of Columbia)
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VR-VA-0062-0002 | VR-VA-0062-0004 | VR-VA-0062-0006 | VR-VA-0062-0008 | VR-VA-0062-0010 | VR-VA-0062-0016 | VR-VA-0062-0019 | VR-VA-0062-0020 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Defendant's Lawyers
Cuccinelli, Kenneth T. II
(Virginia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0013 | VR-VA-0062-0014 | VR-VA-0062-0017
Ehrich, Lisa
(Virginia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0003 | VR-VA-0062-0005 | VR-VA-0062-0009 | VR-VA-0062-0013 | VR-VA-0062-0014 | VR-VA-0062-0017 | VR-VA-0062-0020
Getchell, Earle Duncan Jr.
(Virginia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0013 | VR-VA-0062-0014 | VR-VA-0062-0017
Hall, Stephen Michael
(Virginia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0003 | VR-VA-0062-0005 | VR-VA-0062-0013 | VR-VA-0062-0014 | VR-VA-0062-0017 | VR-VA-0062-0020 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Lief, Joshua Noah
(Virginia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0026 | VR-VA-0062-0028 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Rosen, Jeff Wayne
(Virginia)
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VR-VA-0062-0003 | VR-VA-0062-0005 | VR-VA-0062-0009 | VR-VA-0062-0013 | VR-VA-0062-0014 | VR-VA-0062-0017 | VR-VA-0062-0026 | VR-VA-0062-0028 | VR-VA-0062-9000
Russell, Wesley G. Jr.
(Virginia)
show/hide docs
VR-VA-0062-0013 | VR-VA-0062-0014 | VR-VA-0062-0017
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