Two separate civil rights lawsuits were filed against Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin seeking injunctive relief to halt the implementation of a controversial redistricting plan, Louisiana House Bill 1, hours after Governor John Bel Edwards’ veto was overruled.

The NAACP, alongside pro hac vice attorneys from New York-based Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison law firm, filed suit in United States District Court, arguing that the court “must step in and remedy this clear violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”

Just hours later, Darrel J. Papillion, shareholder at Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens law firm filed a separate suit, also in United States District Court. 

Papillion’s suit sought intervention from the court, arguing that HB 1 violates the Voting Rights Act and asking the court to enjoin Ardoin from implementing HB 1’s redistricting plan and to implement a more equitable redistricting plan. 

House Republicans moved — despite national outcry and strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers — to implement HB 1. Bel Edwards vetoed the bill on March 9, but the legislature moved March 30 to override his veto.