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In a surprising development, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has withdrawn its 2022 lawsuit against Houston, which had accused the city's at-large voting system of discriminating against Latino voters.

LULAC Dropped Houston Lawsuit : LULAC Withdraws Legal Action

On Friday, LULAC and individual plaintiffs Cristina Acosta, Ivan Castillo, and Ivan Sanchez filed a notice of nonsuit in the Southern District of Texas, bringing their legal challenge to a sudden halt. The notice did not provide specific reasons for the abrupt withdrawal of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, originally filed in December 2022, had contended that Houston’s at-large voting system for city council positions marginalized Latino voters. The plaintiffs claimed that since the creation of citywide council seats in 1979, only two Latinos had been elected, which they argued was a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act and the discrimination criteria established by the 1986 Supreme Court case Thornburg v. Gingles.

LULAC dropped Houston Lawsuit : Plaintiffs and Defendants in the Case

Martin Golando of The Law Office of Martin Golando PLLC, representing LULAC, has declined to comment further, referring inquiries back to the nonprofit organization. LULAC and the city of Houston have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Houston’s legal team includes Stephanie A. Hamm, Lisa R. McBride, and Christopher B. Gilbert of Thompson & Horton LLP, along with Edgardo E. Colón of West & Associates LLP.

The case, filed under LULAC et al. v. City of Houston et al., case number 4:22-cv-04199, was being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The dismissal leaves unanswered questions about the future of Houston’s voting system and its impact on minority representation.