On August 24, 2023, the California Supreme Court issued the first Supreme Court decision interpreting the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (“CVRA”), clarifying the standard for CVRA claims and reversing a Court of Appeal decision in favor of the City of Santa Monica. The California Supreme Court held that CVRA plaintiffs do not need to prove that they can draw a racially compact voting district to show that their voting rights have been diluted. The Court remanded the case back to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration.

DHKL joined the case as appellate counsel after a 2018 trial decision in favor of plaintiffs and continue the fight back at the trial court.