NEW ORLEANS — Monday’s federal judge blocked the use in Louisiana of new congressional maps that only include one predominantly Black district. She ordered that the Legislature come up with a plan to fix the problem by June 20.
Officials from the state quickly filed a notice to appeal against the order of U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick in Baton Rouge.
Dick has one month to draw new districts lines by June 20, which is one month before the November 8th sign-up period.
The judge stated that “If the Legislature fails to pass a remedy plan by that date the Court will issue additional orders for the Court to enact a remedy plan compliant with laws and Constitution of United States.”
The Republican-dominated Legislature created the district map in a special session that took place earlier this year. Democratic Governor. John Bel Edwards vetoed maps, but his veto was overruled. Voting rights advocates filed a lawsuit.
Edwards suggested that lawmakers should have included another majority-Black district in the six districts they approved. He pointed out that almost one-third of the state’s residents are Black.
The news of the decision spread as the Legislature was about to close its 2022 regular session on Monday afternoon. After the regular session was over, it was not clear what the next move would be for the legislative leadership.
Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is a Republican and the top state election official. He filed a notice to appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, New Orleans. The case could eventually reach the Supreme Court. This court had earlier in the year put on hold a lower court ruling that Alabama needed to draw new congressional districts before 2022 elections in order to increase Black voter power.
Ardoin’s office stated that he would make a statement Monday. Edwards was scheduled to address the topic at the news conference that was set for the end.
