The Supreme Court has blocked attempts by the Democrats to push for redistricting in Alabama ahead of the midterm elections.
The ruling is a big win to the GOP.
However, the victory may only be temporary as the SCOTUS will officially rule on the issue after the midterms.
The redistricting process is underway and despite Republicans controlling more state legislatures, the Democrats have done surprisingly well not losing as many seats as most thought.
The Supreme Court granted Alabama’s request to stay a lower court’s order to draw a new congressional map with 2 majority-black districts.
This stay will be in place for the 2022 midterms.
Michael Li, the redistricting & voting counsel at the Brennan Center, broke down the ruling, writing:
“SCOTUS in a 5-4 decision halts the redrawing of Alabama’s congressional map and agrees to hear the cases. Roberts and liberals dissent from granting of stay.
“Kavanaugh joined by Alito write separately to say that he is granting a stay because of the election schedule.
“Chief Justice Roberts dissents, saying the “District Court properly applied existing law in an extensive opinion with no apparent errors for our correction.” He says he would have taken the cases but not granted a stay.
“And Justice Kagan, joined by Justices Breyer and Sotomayor, writes blisteringly about the court’s use of the shadow docket saying the stay does a “disservice to Black Alabamians who have had their electoral power diminished.”
“Under the normal briefing rules, Alabama’s brief on appeal will be due March 24 and the plaintiffs’ brief on April 25 (though both these can be extended). No request for expedition (yet) so these cases will be argued next term (i.e., Oct).”
From WHNT:
The court’s action, by a 5-4 vote, means the upcoming elections will be conducted under a map drawn by Alabama’s Republican-controlled legislature that contains one majority-black district, represented by a black Democrat, in a state in which more than a quarter of the population is black.
A three-judge lower court, including two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump, had ruled that the state had likely violated the federal Voting Rights Act by diluting the political power of black voters by not creating a second district in which they made up a majority, or close to it.
Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito, part of the conservative majority, said a lower court acted too close to the 2022 election cycle.
Chief Justice John Roberts joined his three more liberal colleagues in dissent.
“We’re at the end of qualifying. This would have harmed the people of Alabama, caused confusion, and created serious problems for candidates because this election cycle is already in mid-stream,” said Alabama GOP Chairman John Wahl.
???????? BREAKING: SCOTUS in a 5-4 decision halts the redrawing of Alabama’s congressional map and agrees to hear the cases. Roberts and liberals dissent from granting of stay. Opinion and dissents here: https://t.co/WR9jFQlebd pic.twitter.com/wxLRfOlwkA
— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) February 7, 2022
Kavanaugh joined by Alito write separately to say that he is granting a stay because of the election schedule. pic.twitter.com/J9oTtO5Ef1
— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) February 7, 2022
