League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa v. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, et al.

Respondents appeal a district court ruling dissolving a 2008 injunction, which had barred the Iowa Secretary of State from providing voter registration forms in languages other than English and granting petitioner declaratory relief that the Iowa English Language Reaffirmation Act, see Iowa Code section 1.18, does not apply to voting materials. Respondents contend the court erred because: (1) no substantial change in the underlying facts or the law occurred since the issuance of the permanent injunction to justify its dissolution; (2) petitioner lacked standing to obtain the declaratory judgment; and (3) voting materials in languages other than English are not necessary to secure the right to vote and thus the exemption in Iowa Code section 1.18(5)(h) does not apply.

Holding: The respondents appeal a district court ruling dissolving a permanent injunction entered in a different proceeding and entering a declaratory judgment regarding the interpretation of the Iowa English Language Reaffirmation Act. Reversed and Case Remanded.