Dec. 10—ANDERSON — The Chicago law firm representing the Anderson City Council in a redistricting case has withdrawn from the case.
Judge Tim Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana approved the withdrawal from the case of Steve Laduzinsky and Devlin Schoop as City Council representatives.
The request for withdrawal filed by both attorneys cited irreconcilable differences with the council as the reason for their decision.
The Anderson City Council paid the Henderson Parks a total of $150,000.
Rosemary Khoury, the city’s attorney, will continue to represent the Anderson City Council in the case.
Last week, the City Council voted to hire an outside consultant to create new maps for the six municipal districts.
Common Cause of Indiana, the League of Women Voters of Indiana and the local chapter of the NAACP filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in 2023, alleging that the six single-member council districts violated federal law based on the requirement of one person, one vote. of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Three council members – Ollie H. Dixon, Greg Graham and Joe Newman – created a map earlier this year that was never presented in federal court.
Common Cause has submitted a map to the City Council.
The council voted not to accept that map and instead decided to hire an outside consultant to draw the district maps as a result of the 2020 federal census.
Previously, the federal judge issued a partial summary judgment ruling that the city had failed to redraw the district maps.
Khoury said hiring a consultant would ultimately put an end to the lawsuit over time. Dixon said the council has options and supported the maps drawn by the three council members.
Former City Council President Rebecca Crumes said last week that the census figures the federal government approved after the 2020 census were not accurate.
“The federal government has used estimated numbers,” she said. “Race is a factor.”
Crumes said the Chicago law firm should be fired by the council.
“The city needs to hire a professional,” she said.
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
