The Supreme Court rejects Louisiana’s appeal, allowing for the creation of a second majority-black district.

The U.S. Supreme Court has made a significant decision regarding Louisiana’s congressional map. The court denied Louisiana’s appeal and ruled that the state must redraw its map to include a second majority-black district. This development has moved the case forward to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Louisiana’s Democratic Governor, Jon Bel Edwards, has expressed his approval of the high court’s decision. He believes that Louisiana should have a congressional map that accurately represents its voting population, which includes a significant Black population. Governor Edwards emphasizes the importance of fairness, the rule of law, and simple math in this matter. He is confident that a fair map will be established in the near future.

This ruling follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Allen v. Milligan, where Alabama was found to have violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The court ordered Alabama to draw a second majority-black district. The Supreme Court’s order in Louisiana’s case suggests that they expect the Milligan ruling to be applied by the lower court.

The Supreme Court’s decision means that the lower court proceedings, which were previously halted, will now restart. These proceedings were paused when the Supreme Court allowed the current map to be used in the 2022 elections. Prior to the stay order, the Fifth Circuit was reviewing U.S. District Judge Shelley Dick’s ruling that invalidated Louisiana’s map.

Judge Dick had been considering a remedial congressional plan after Louisiana’s Republican legislature refused to draw a second majority-black district. With the stay lifted, the Fifth Circuit will likely schedule a new hearing on the legislature’s appeal, and Judge Dick will plan a conference hearing to draw the map before the 2024 elections.

These rulings in Alabama and Louisiana could have significant implications for the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Currently, Louisiana is represented by five Republicans and one Democrat. However, plaintiffs argued that the state’s Black population warrants two majority-black districts. Given that Black voters traditionally lean towards the Democratic Party, both Alabama and Louisiana are likely to lose a Republican representative.

Both states must now redraw their districts with additional majority-black districts before the 2024 elections. This requirement comes after the Supreme Court allowed the current maps to be used in the 2022 midterms.

Justice Roberts’ majority opinion in Milligan highlighted the unequal representation of minority voters in Alabama’s districts. Justice Thomas criticized the majority’s reasoning and their use of racialized terms instead of race-neutral arguments.

Some pundits believe that the Milligan decision could also impact maps in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, potentially benefiting Democrats in their quest to retake the House. However, it is important to note that challenges to maps under the Voting Rights Act are often unsuccessful. The outcome for other states’ maps remains uncertain.

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