Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana redistricting case creates uncertainty
The U.S. Supreme Court last week created an uncertain outlook for Louisiana’s congressional races next year, deciding to let a lawsuit against the state’s new district maps run its course. The US Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a lawsuit against Louisiana's new district maps, creating uncertainty for the state's congressional races next year. The decision comes after a federal appeals court halted the drawing of new district boundaries to give Louisiana's voters more equitable representation in Congress. The lawsuit, Robinson v. Ardoin, was brought by a group of Black voters against the Louisiana Legislature's maps approved last year. Despite the Supreme Court's refusal to intervene, the lawsuit remains under review in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The court has denied two requests from the plaintiffs to restart the map drawing after the court last month canceled a lower court hearing where a judge would approve a map containing two majority-Black congressional districts.
प्रकाशित : 2 साल पहले द्वारा Louisiana Illuminator में Politics
The U.S. Supreme Court last week created an uncertain outlook for Louisiana’s congressional races next year, deciding to let a lawsuit against the state’s new district maps run its course.
Justices declined to intervene on an unusual ruling from a federal appeals court last month that paused the drawing of new district boundaries to give Louisiana’s voters more equitable representation in Congress.
Thursday’s ruling keeps the lawsuit under review in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. A group of Black voters sued Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and other state officials to stop the maps the Republican-dominated Louisiana Legislature approved last year.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney Jared Evans, who is representing the plaintiffs, told Louisiana Illuminator the Supreme Court ruling is not a big deal. He plans to proceed with a lower court hearing on Feb. 5, 2024, to have new maps drawn.
The case, Robinson v. Ardoin, stems from a congressional map with just one majority-Black district lawmakers adopted in defiance of federal district court order. Louisiana’s Black population exceeds 30%, which the court says merits a second Black district out of six total.
In Thursday’s brief ruling with no dissents, the justices denied two requests from the plaintiffs to restart the drawing of the map after the 5th Circuit last month canceled a lower court hearing at which U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick was expected to approve a map containing two majority-Black congressional districts. Louisiana Attorney General and Gov.-elect Jeff Landry had filed a request to stop Dick’s planned hearing, claiming it was rushed in a “clear abuse of discretion.”
Court watchers stressed how unusual it was for an appeals court to approve a request of that nature. Even Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted it in her concurring opinion on Thursday’s ruling.
Nonetheless, the justices declined to intervene, which could jeopardize the creation of a second majority-Black district in time for next fall’s election, though Evans says he remains optimistic. Read the full story from Louisiana Illuminator.
विषय: Louisiana, Supreme Court