Mississippi State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People et al v. State Board of Election Commissioners et al

Filing 240

ORDER granting 238 Plaintiffs' Motion for a Briefing Schedule. Plaintiffs' Objections are due March 14, 2025; Defendants' Response is due March 21, 2025; Plaintiffs' Reply is due March 26, 2025. Signed by District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III on March 11, 2025. (EHP)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
NORTHERN DIVISION
MISSISSIPPI STATE CONFERENCE OF
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR
THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED
PEOPLE, ET AL.
V.

PLAINTIFFS
CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:22-CV-734-DPJ-HSO-LHS

STATE BOARD OF ELECTION
COMMISSIONERS, ET AL.

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
Yesterday, Plaintiffs filed a notice [236] asking the Court to establish a briefing
schedule; Defendants objected [237]. Because Local Rule 7(b) requires a motion
whenever a party seeks court action, the Court instructed the Clerk of Court to re-docket
the submissions as a motion and response.
Under Plaintiffs’ proposed schedule, objections to the newly enacted re-districting
plans would be due March 14, 2025, Defendants would have until March 21 to respond,
and Plaintiffs could reply by March 26. See Mot. [238]. Defendants oppose this because
they believe time is of the essence and that the objections are currently due on March 12.
Defs.’ Resp. [239] at 2. According to them, “[a]dditional briefing threatens expeditious
judicial approval.” Id. at 3.
Given the mere two-day difference in the parties’ suggested due dates for
objections, the Court sees no prejudice in granting Plaintiffs’ request to object by March
14. Plaintiffs have informed the Court that they intend to file substantive objections with
supporting materials and expert reports. While Defendants understandably seek a speedy

resolution, they will need to file a substantive response, and the proposed deadline for
that seems as tight as practical. Plaintiffs’ reply will be due seven days after Defendants
respond.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ motion [238] to impose a
briefing schedule is GRANTED consistent with the deadlines stated in this Order.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this the 11th day of March, 2025.
s/ Daniel P. Jordan III
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE