Federal Judges Block Alabama From Using Racially Gerrymandered Congressional Map

A three-judge federal panel blocked Alabama’s use of a 2023 congressional map previously ruled racially discriminatory. The panel ordered Alabama to use a remedial map designed to give Black Alabamians a meaningful opportunity to elect their preferred leaders. The ruling followed a U.S. Supreme Court order requiring reevaluation after the panel’s April decision. At a Friday hearing, the panel expressed skepticism about Alabama’s claim that the map reflected partisan intent rather than dilution of Black voters. The same panel had earlier issued a “race-blind” map that resulted in the election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures. Alabama filed a notice of appeal, and the attorney general said the case’s outcome was not in doubt, only timing.

"A three-judge panel on Tuesday blocked Alabama from using a 2023 congressional map the panel ruled racially discriminatory and ordered the state to use a remedial map aimed at giving Black Alabamians a chance to elect their preferred leaders. The order comes almost a month after the U.S. Supreme Court substantially weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a case known as Louisiana v. Callais, and weeks after Gov. Kay Ivey called a special session in which Republican lawmakers set special primaries for August."

"The panel was ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court to reevaluate its ruling on the map in light of its April ruling. But at a hearing on Friday, the panel expressed skepticism toward the state's argument on that the 2023 map was drawn with partisan intent, not to dilute Black voters. The same three-judge panel previously found that the map was intentionally racially discriminatory and issued a "race-blind" map that led to the election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, of the 2nd Congressional District."

"The state filed a notice of appeal Tuesday morning, according to court documents. "This is a very fluid situation, and I will do my best to keep the people of Alabama apprised of our efforts," Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement Tueday. "Know this - in my mind, it is not a matter of whether we win this case, only when," he said."

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