Case Summary
LWVNJ, represented by Ballard Spahr, LLP, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of New Jersey, asserting a new election ward map in Jersey City was not compact and improperly divided communities of interest.
Jersey City, which lies on the Hudson River across from New York City, is divided into six wards, each of which elects a member of the City Council. Every 10 years, after the census, the wards are redrawn to reflect changes in population. Cities may adopt such a system for electing their councils. The districts are drawn by the County Election Board and city clerk, who are collectively known as ward commissioners.
New Jersey’s Municipal Ward Law provides that wards must be “compact and contiguous” and cannot deviate in population among each other by more than 10%, based upon the most recent federal census.
In early 2022, after the release of the 2020 Census data, the Jersey City wards were redrawn. Two lawsuits were filed against the new maps.
On March 7, 2022, an individual plaintiff filed a lawsuit, asserting the ward commissioners had violated the state’s open meetings law and that the districts they created were non-compact and broke up the Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City.
On March 21, 2022, 13 community-based organizations and a newly elected council member filed a separate lawsuit, asserting the new maps violated the Municipal Ward Law; the New Jersey Civil Rights Act; and their rights of free speech, free association, and equal protection under the New Jersey Constitution. The plaintiffs also argued that the ward commissioners did not comply with the state’s Open Public Meetings Act.
The trial court dismissed both lawsuits on August 25, 2022. The plaintiffs appealed and on March 12, 2024, the New Jersey Superior Court’s Appellate Division partially affirmed the dismissal, remanding the case to the trial court to decide whether the new ward map was legal under the Municipal Wards Law under rational basis review. The plaintiffs subsequently appealed to the New Jersey Supreme Court, which accepted the case on September 24, 2024.
On December 19, 2024, LWVNJ filed an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs. The brief argued that the preservation of communities of interest was a long-standing, vitally important principle in redistricting and that the new ward map failed to adhere to compactness or preserve communities of interest. The state Supreme Court held oral argument on January 6, 2025.
On June 18, 2025, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the defendants. It held that the Commission’s map was a proper exercise of the ward commissioners’ discretion in drawing ward lines. The court partially affirmed and partially reversed the decision of the appellate court. It reversed the appellate court’s ruling that additional fact-finding was needed to determine if the map was compact and, instead, reinstated the trial court’s judgment on this claim. The court affirmed the lower court’s judgment that the trial court properly dismissed the equal protection claim.
LWVNJ was represented in this matter by Ballard Spahr LLP.
LWV Timeline
First lawsuit is filed
An individual plaintiff files a lawsuit against the new wards, alleging they are not compact because of their division of the Lafayette neighborhood, and that the ward commissioners violated New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act.
Community organizations file lawsuit
A newly elected council member and several community groups filed a state court lawsuit, asserting the new wards for Jersey City violate New Jersey’s Municipal Ward Law, the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, and various provisions of the New Jersey Constitution and state statutes.
Trial court dismisses case
A state trial court dismisses both lawsuits, ruling that the districts were compact and the plaintiffs had failed to prove a violation of constitutional rights and provide specific dates of meetings violating the Open Public Meetings Act.
State appeals court partially affirms dismissal
The appellate division of the Superior Court largely affirms the trial court’s dismissal of the two cases but remands the cases to the trial court to decide, using rational basis review, whether the new maps are legal under the Municipal Wards Law.
New Jersey Supreme Court accepts case
The New Jersey Supreme Court agrees to review the case upon appeal by the plaintiffs. The court agrees to consider only the claims based on the Municipal Ward Law, New Jersey Civil Rights Act, and Equal Protection Clause of the New Jersey Constitution.
LWVNJ files amicus brief
LWVNJ files an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs, emphasizing the importance of preserving communities of interest and asserting the new ward map was neither compact nor preservative of communities of interest.
New Jersey Supreme Court issues ruling
The court rules in favor of the defendants, holding the maps did not violate state law.