The Supreme Court has denied Alabama’s emergency request to freeze a lower court ruling, which means that a new congressional map will be created to include a second Black majority district. The state’s current map only includes one majority-Black district, despite a previous Supreme Court ruling that called for more political representation for the state’s Black population. The Supreme Court’s decision reflects the unchanged stance of the court since June, when they affirmed the lower court’s order to redraw the congressional map. The case has been closely watched as it highlights Alabama GOP lawmakers’ disregard for the Supreme Court’s decision.
Alabama had asked the Supreme Court to freeze the lower court ruling, arguing that their new congressional map was acceptable even without a second majority-Black district. The state’s Attorney General, Steve Marshall, claimed that the new map kept communities of interest intact and made the overall map more compact. However, the lower court panel overseeing the case invalidated the map and ordered a special master to draft new lines. The panel expressed its concerns about Alabama’s actions, stating that the state’s enacted map did not provide the remedy required by federal law. The Supreme Court’s rejection of Alabama’s emergency bid confirms the need for a new congressional map that includes adequate representation for the state’s Black residents.
Challengers to the map, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the ACLU, argued that the current map dilutes the power of Black voters. They criticized Alabama’s defiance of the Supreme Court’s previous ruling and likened the state’s actions to historical resistance against civil rights remedies. The case has wider implications as it reflects the ongoing struggle for equal political representation and highlights the tensions between redistricting principles and racial results. With the Supreme Court’s denial, preparations for the 2024 elections can now proceed under the expectation that a new congressional map will be implemented.