California law also prohibits at large election systems that dilute the vote of minority voters. DHKL has successfully litigated, tried, and settled voting rights cases throughout California, securing important Court of Appeal and Supreme Court decisions confirming the unique protections of the California Voting Rights Act for voters in California’s multiracial electorate.
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Current Cases
City of Santa Monica
A challenge to the city's at-large voting system under the California Voting Rights Act, resulting in a landmark California Supreme Court ruling. More about this case
Before I filed a voting rights lawsuit against the City of Santa Clara, the City Council had long been mostly or all white for decades. DHKL stepped in to litigate the case when it was too costly and challenging for other firms. Mike Baller, the lead trial attorney from DHKL, was excellent and I could tell the trial judge paid attention to him. Our lawsuit was the first voting rights case on behalf of Asian Americans to go to trial in the country, and I was proud and honored to testify on behalf of Asian American residents of the City of Santa Clara. There have been several election cycles in the years since the case resolved, and the City Council is more diverse than it has ever been.
—Wes Mukoyama
Succeses
AC Transit
California Voting Rights Act challenge to the transit district’s election methods. More about this case
City of Anaheim
CVRA case that resulted in Anaheim switching from at-large to district-based elections to prevent minority vote dilution. More about this case
City of Palmdale
Appellate decision affirming the application of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 to charter cities. More about this case
City of Sunnyvale
Voting Rights More about this case