吃瓜大本营

WASHINGTON 鈥� The U.S. Supreme Court today lifted a temporary halt on a federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana鈥檚 discriminatory congressional maps. The action sends the case, Robinson v. Ardoin, down to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for further consideration.

The lawsuit argues that the maps dilute the voting power of Black Louisianians in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by failing to add a second majority Black district.

A federal judge, along with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, previously ruled that the map was racially discriminatory, requiring legislators to draw a new map ahead of upcoming elections. The case came to a standstill last June when the Supreme Court granted Louisiana鈥檚 bid to temporarily halt the district court ruling and reinstate the discriminatory maps.

The Supreme Court鈥檚 action today comes in the wake of its recent decision in Allen v. Milligan (formerly called Merrill v. Milligan), which reaffirmed the legal framework that guides courts in evaluating challenges to redistricting plans under Section 2.

In March 2022, the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, and individuals Press Robinson, Dorothy Nairne, E. Ren茅 Soul茅, Alice Washington, and Clee Ernest Lowe filed the lawsuit challenging the Louisiana congressional plan. The plaintiffs are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Louisiana, Legal Defense Fund, Harvard Election Law Clinic, Louisiana attorneys John Adcock and Tracie Washington, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

鈥淭he Supreme Court was right to conclude that Alabama鈥檚 maps violate the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana鈥檚 maps do the same thing, and should also be struck down,鈥� said Sarah Brannon, managing attorney with the ACLU鈥檚 Voting Rights Project.

鈥淭he Supreme Court鈥檚 decision to uphold Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act recognizes that attacks on the voting rights of people of color continue,鈥� said Stuart Naifeh, an attorney with the Legal Defense Fund. 鈥淟ouisiana鈥檚 efforts to limit the voting power of Black Louisianans mirrors Alabama鈥檚, and the court鈥檚 decision leads to only one conclusion: Louisiana鈥檚 congressional map must be struck down. Black people make up one-third of Louisiana鈥檚 total population, and this case presents an opportunity to create two out of six congressional districts where Black voters can have their voices heard. Black Louisianians have faced generations of discrimination in political representation, and this litigation can finally chart a more hopeful direction for the state and our nation鈥檚 promise of democracy. There is no reason for the state to continue wasting taxpayer dollars fighting this losing battle. It鈥檚 time for fair maps.鈥�

The Supreme Court鈥檚 decision will allow the case to proceed in advance of the 2024 congressional elections in Louisiana. The current maps severely dilute Black voting power by packing Black voters from New Orleans and Baton Rouge into a single U.S. congressional district, whereas in actuality, Black Louisianians make up roughly one-third of the state.

鈥淭he Supreme Court鈥檚 decision in Allen v. Milligan confirms that the disenfranchisement of Black voters by unfair, racially gerrymandered maps is an attack on our democracy," said ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Alanah Odoms. 鈥淔or voters of color to be fully included in our democratic processes, Louisiana鈥檚 congressional maps must accurately reflect our state鈥檚 population.鈥�

鈥淭he Supreme Court鈥檚 ruling upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was welcome news for Black voters in Louisiana who, for decades, have been in a single district that has diluted the power of their vote and the ability to elect candidates of our choice,鈥� said Mike McClanahan, president of the Louisiana Conference of the NAACP. 鈥淎s in Alabama, the people of Louisiana have the law on their side and the facts on their side. But the fight doesn鈥檛 end here 鈥� it鈥檚 time for a new map with two majority Black districts that will finally honor Black voters鈥� right to fair representation.鈥�

鈥淲e are optimistic about the future of fair maps in Louisiana,鈥� said Ashley Shelton, founder and president/CEO of Power Coalition for Equity and Justice. 鈥淎t every stage of the redistricting process, we worked with community members across the state to ensure their voices were heard. Their message could not have been clearer: They wanted fair maps that represent all of Louisiana鈥檚 communities and no longer deny Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. We are eager to see this legal process play out in the judiciary and have renewed hope after the Supreme Court鈥檚 order. The promise of fair representation has been the North Star guiding our work on behalf of voters in Louisiana and we are ready to finally reach it.鈥�

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This case is part of the ACLU鈥檚 Joan and Irwin Jacobs Supreme Court Docket.