Privilege Shields Lawmakers’ Motives in Voting Case (Correct)

North Dakota legislators don’t have to comply with subpoenas for documents or testimony in a voting rights case seeking evidence of an illicit motive in the latest state legislative redistricting plan, a divided Eighth Circuit said Tuesday.

The challengers sought information or maps pertaining to the redistricting and Native American reservations, racial polarization or demographic studies conducted by the redistricting committee, and more. The district court ordered the legislators to comply, but the opinion by Judge Steven M. Colloton told the lower court to quash the subpoenas because they infringe on legislative privilege.

Legislative privilege applies where lawmakers or their ...