This case challenged at-large elections for the County Commission of Big Horn County, Montana, as diluting Indigenous voting strength, allowing the white majority to control the outcome of elections, and preventing Native voters from electing representatives of their choice. As a remedy, the court adopted single member districts for the county commission and the school board. At the next election, a Native American was elected to the County Commission for the first time in Big Horn County’s history.

Attorney(s)

Jeffrey Renz and Laughlin MacDonald

Date filed

June 13, 1986

Court

U.S. District Court - Montana

Case number

CV 83-225-BLG-ER