Judges toss out new Alabama congressional map, order state to add a 2nd substantially Black district

A panel of three federal judges in Alabama ruled unanimously Monday that Alabama needs to draw a new congressional map that includes "two districts in which Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it." The GOP-led state Legislature approved a congressional map last year that retains six majority-white districts and one majority-Black district, even though Alabama's population is about 27 percent Black. Alabama's congressional delegation includes six House Republicans and one House Democrat representing the 7th Congressional District.
The three judges — one appointed by President Bill Clinton and the other two by President Donald Trump — said the plaintiffs in the three consolidated cases are "substantially likely" to prevail in their claim that Alabama's current congressional map violates the Voting Rights Act.
"Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress," the 225-page ruling says. "We find that the plaintiffs will suffer an irreparable harm if they must vote in the 2022 congressional elections based on a redistricting plan that violates federal law." The judges blocked the current map and pushed back the Jan. 28 deadline for candidate qualification to Feb. 11 to give the Legislature time to approve a remedial map.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
If state lawmakers are unable to come up with a new map in two weeks, the judges said they would provide an expert to draw the new districts. But "we are confident that the Legislature can accomplish its task," the judges said, noting that they drew the now-blocked map "in a matter of days" last year.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall's (R) office said it "strongly disagrees with the court's decision and will be appealing in the coming days."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein