A three-judge panel–including two Trump-appointed judges and one originally assigned to the bench by Ronald Reagan–appointed a special master to redraw the Congressional districts in Alabama after the Republican-dominated state legislature refused to comply with a federal court order to create a second Black-representative district.
In June, the Supreme Court ordered the Alabama legislature to redraw its Congressional map to ensure an additional Black majority district. Instead, the GOP-led legislature lowered the percentage of Blacks in the one Black-majority district in the state and slightly raised the percentage of Black voters in another district, two things that did not meet the Supreme Court order.
“Based on the evidence before us, including testimony from the Legislators, we have no reason to believe that allowing the Legislature still another opportunity to draw yet another map will yield a map that includes an additional opportunity district. Moreover, counsel for the State has informed the Court that, even if the Court were to grant the Legislature yet another opportunity to draw a map, it would be practically impossible for the Legislature to reconvene and do so in advance of the 2024 election cycle. Accordingly, the Special Master and cartographer are DIRECTED to commence work forthwith on a remedial map. Instructions shall follow by separate order.”