Mississippi Supreme Court Redistricting Challenge 

Lawsuit filed on behalf of Black Mississippians against State Board of Election Commissioners, Gov. Tate Reeves (R), Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R) and Secretary of State Michael Watson (R) challenging the districts used for electing justices to the Mississippi Supreme Court. The plaintiffs allege that the districts used for electing justices to Mississippi’s nine-member state Supreme Court dilute the voting strength of Black Mississippians in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). “Mississippi’s population is almost 40 percent Black—a greater proportion than any other State in the nation. Yet in the 100 years that Mississippi has elected its Supreme Court by popular vote, there have been a total of only four Black justices ever to sit on that body,” the complaint notes. 

According to the complaint, since 1987, Mississippi has utilized the same three at-large districts — which “were drawn by the Legislature over the objections of Black lawmakers” — to elect its nine state Supreme Court justices. Additionally, the plaintiffs argue that “the district representing the center of the State—District 1—could readily be redrawn, in a manner consistent with traditional districting principles, to have a Black voting age majority, such that Black voters have an opportunity to elect candidates of choice. This modest change would keep the State’s overall districting scheme for Supreme Court elections intact, while also ensuring that those elections comply with federal law.” Finally, the plaintiffs underscore the fact that voting is “heavily polarized on the basis of race across Mississippi” and that the state has a long history of discriminating against Black voters. The plaintiffs ask the court to declare the current districts in violation of the VRA and to require the enactment of state Supreme Court districts “that do not abridge or dilute the ability of Black voters to elect candidates of choice.”

A trial took place before the district court on Aug. 5, 2024.

On Aug. 19, 2025, the district court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, finding that the Mississippi Supreme Court electoral map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting strength. As a result, Mississippi had to draw a new map that complies with Section 2. The court gave the Mississippi Legislature the first opportunity to enact a compliant plan before intervening.

STATUS: Mississippi appealed the Aug. 2025 ruling to the 5th Circuit and the case was paused pending the Supreme Court’s resolution of Callais.

In the district court, plaintiffs and defendants submitted their proposed remedial maps in light of the state legislature’s failure to redraw the state Supreme Court map during the 2026 legislative session. The district court held a hearing on Apr. 28 to hear arguments on which map the judge should select.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Callais, the district court judge has ordered parties to submit briefings by May 6 on how the ruling impacts this case and how the court should proceed with the remedial process.

Last updated: April 30, 2026 10:41 am EST