Alabama Attorney General to Appeal Congressional Districting Ruling
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has announced the state’s plan to appeal a recent federal court ruling that decided to invalidate the state’s 2023 congressional district map.
A representative from the Attorney General’s Office confirmed this development on Tuesday.
Marshall has continuously supported the congressional redistricting as constitutional and valid. The current map, which was approved by lawmakers in 2023, followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Allen v. Milligan case. That decision mandated the creation of a second congressional district to enhance opportunities for Black voters in selecting their representatives.
The adjustments made to District 2 aimed to boost minority representation without employing racially driven strategies or gerrymandering.
However, a three-judge panel issued a decision on May 8, nearly 600 pages long, which permanently barred the use of the congressional maps. The panel found that the current configuration unjustly limited Black voters, who constitute about 27% of Alabama’s population, by maintaining only one majority-Black district out of seven.
Related: Federal court blocks Alabama legislative map citing intentional discrimination against Black voters
Related: Federal judge publishes final map to Alabama (2023)
This ruling is part of an ongoing legal dispute regarding redistricting in Alabama, stemming from the earlier Supreme Court decision that called for a second district that allows genuine chances for Black voters to influence elections.
Following the court’s mandated modifications, Alabama, for the first time in its history, elected two minority representatives, Terry Sewell (D-Birmingham) and Chomali figures (D-Mobile), during the 2024 election.
The presiding judge also indicated that they would contemplate a motion to facilitate federal oversight of future redistricting efforts in Alabama, referring to Shelby County vs. Holder.
Marshall’s choice to appeal indicates that the state intends to maintain its legal defense of the redistricting plan, potentially leading to another evaluation by the U.S. Supreme Court.
