Two separate legal challenges to Tarrant County’s mid-decade redistricting plan have been dismissed, marking a significant development in the months-long dispute over the new precinct map adopted earlier this year.
The county approved Map 7 on June 3 in a 3-2 vote, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The map expanded Republican advantages on the commissioners court and immediately drew criticism from groups including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County, who alleged the configuration was racially discriminatory and violated federal law.
Federal Case Dropped by Plaintiffs
Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare said Wednesday that plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit voluntarily dismissed their case earlier that morning.
“Yesterday morning, the federal case against Tarrant County for Redistricting was dismissed by the plaintiffs,” O’Hare wrote in a public statement. “We followed the law. And Tarrant County will be the better for it.”
State Case Dismissed by District Judge
Hours later, a Texas district judge dismissed the second lawsuit filed in state court by LULAC and the League of Women Voters.
Judge Megan Fahey of the 348th Judicial District signed the order on November 28, granting the defendants’ Amended Plea to the Jurisdiction and dismissing all claims.
The order states that the court reviewed “responsive briefing, evidence presented, relevant legal authority, and arguments of counsel” before determining the plea should be granted.
Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause said the ruling aligns with the county’s position that the redistricting process complied with state election law.
“The lawsuit in the state court has been dismissed by Judge Megan Fahey,” Krause wrote in a statement. “This ruling could be appealed, so we’ll have to wait and see. But, even if it is appealed, I would expect the ruling to be upheld.”
Background on the Redistricting Plan
Map 7 reconfigured multiple precincts across Tarrant County, including shifts in Arlington, Mansfield, Benbrook, and areas along the county’s southern and eastern borders. The proposal drew large crowds at the June 3 commissioners court meeting, where opponents argued the plan diluted minority voting strength, while supporters said it provided clearer representation for a Republican-leaning county of more than 2.2 million residents.
In the months that followed, several local elected officials publicly criticized the map and suggested potential legal vulnerabilities. Two of the ten mayors who initially opposed the plan later withdrew their signatures after completing additional review.
With both lawsuits now dismissed, the adopted map remains in effect unless overturned on appeal.
