US Department of Justice Intervenes In Louisiana Legislative Redistricting Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice is getting involved in a lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s legislative districts.
On Thursday, the DOJ filed a notice of intervention in a case filed on behalf of Black voters challenging Louisiana’s state House and Senate maps under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The lawsuit alleges that the state’s legislative maps dilute the voting power of Black voters and argues that the Black population in Louisiana can constitute a voting majority in six to nine more state House districts and three more state Senate districts.
Last month, the Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin notified the court that he is challenging the constitutionality of Section 2.
Citing Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurrence in Allen v. Milligan, Ardoin argues that granting additional Black opportunity districts would require the court to “interpret the Voting Rights Act in a way that violates the U.S. Constitution.” Since the DOJ is tasked with enforcing the Voting Rights Act, they are entering the case to defend the landmark law preventing discrimination in redistricting and voting.
The Department of Justice notified the court that it will submit a brief to the court by Dec. 19. A trial was held in this case from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.