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The state of Alabama is playing a fun game of fuck around with voting rights, and now it looks like they’re finding out. See, they’re ground zero for testing the American justice system’s tolerance for racial gerrymandering.
Alabama faced a court mandate, backed by the Supreme Court, to create two majority-Black districts or “something quite close to it.” But the GOP-controlled legislature advanced a new, “compromise” map — backed by Alabama GOP Gov. Kay Ivey, saying, “The Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline.” However, unlike the incredibly specific court order, the new map only had one majority-Black district.
The federal panel seemed pretty pissed about being openly defied. But Alabama went all-in on the gamble the Supreme Court would back them on their racist maps, asking SCOTUS to block the lower court ruling while the state appealed.
But for the second time, the Court came down on the side of civil rights activists. Without comment or public dissent, the Supreme Court declined to block the lower court’s ruling, which, again, required a second majority-Black district.
Let’s see if Alabama will heed *this* court order.
Earlier: Court Rejects Alabama Request To Pretty Please Let It Keep Using Racial Gerrymanders Forever
Federal Panel Tosses Alabama’s Racist Congressional Maps. Again.
Notre Dame Law Professor Has Trouble With Difficult Concept Of Counting To 2
Supreme Court Decisions Only Matter To Republicans When They Go Their Way
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
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