Alabama Asks SCOTUS to Revive Racially Discriminatory Map

Alabama is again appealing its long-running redistricting battle to the U.S. Supreme Court, two years after the high court already affirmed a district court decision that struck down the state’s original congressional map for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. 

A three-judge federal panel ruled last month that the state’s 2023 redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution by intentionally discriminating against Black voters – and defied previous orders from a federal court and the U.S. Supreme Court to add two majority-Black districts.

Two of those judges were appointed by President Donald Trump.

The disputed maps stem from the 2020 Census, which preceded the first redistricting cycle in 50 years that Alabama wasn’t under federal preclearance. By continuing to defy court orders, the federal panel warned last month, Alabama risks once again being placed under federal preclearance, a “time out” period when a state with a record of racial discrimination must get federal approval for changes to its election rules.  

“We are troubled by the State’s view that even if we enter judgment for the Plaintiffs after a full trial, the State remains free to make the same checkmate move yet again — and again, and again, and again,” the ruling stated.

Alabama Republican lawmakers responded with a pleading indicating they would not draw a new map, in hopes of avoiding being put under federal preclearance again. 

But with the state’s appeal Friday, Alabama will continue the fighting by challenging the decisions that struck down the 2023 map.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit were represented by the Elias Law Group (ELG). ELG Firm Chair Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket.