Appeals Court (Finally) Finds Louisiana Congressional Map was Discriminatory; Orders New Maps to Be Drawn by January 15

Brian Beihl

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 14, 2023

Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

After multiple appeals, Louisiana is close to getting fair Congressional maps for the 2024 election, after a November 10th appeals court decision directed the legislature to draw new maps by January 15th.  

Louisiana’s voting age population is 30% African American.  Yet out of six Congressional districts, only one is majority Black, in violation of the Voting Rights Act.  After the Supreme Court’s Milligan decision directing Alabama to draw a second majority Black district, democracy groups had hoped for a quick resolution in Louisiana. But, it took two more appeals before the Fifth Circuit finally directed that new maps be drawn by January 15th by the legislature, or the court would draw the map.  A district court has scheduled a hearing to review the map February 5th.

Here’s where it gets even more interesting.  Governor Elect Jeff Landry takes office on January 8th, and special sessions require a 7-day notice – making the session the same day of the deadline.  Landry has already stated he will call that session. Current governor John Bel Edwards could also call a special session, but has not yet done so. Computer redistricting can be done relatively fast, and it’s likely mapmakers are already at work.  

Governor John Bel Edwards wrote in a statement, “I remain confident that we will have a fair map with two majority Black districts before the congressional elections next year.”

We have more on Louisiana Black voters’ fight for fair maps at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Democracy Docket –  Redistricting Lagniappe: The Fight for a Second Majority-Black District in Louisiana
Democracy Docket – Louisiana Voters Ask U.S. Supreme Court To Pause 5th Circuit Order Delaying Fair Maps
Democracy Docket – US Supreme Court Denies Petitioners in Louisiana Redistricting Case Emergency Relief
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Nov. 10, 2023 Decision – Robinson v. Ardoin
Office of the Governor – Statement from Governor Edwards on 5th Circuit Ordering A New Congressional Map
NPR – An appeals court sets a January deadline for a new Louisiana congressional map

NAACP Legal Defense Fund – Federal Court of Appeals Affirms Louisiana’s Congressional Map is Discriminatory

Groups Taking Action:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, ACLU Louisiana,  Power Coalition for Equity and Justice

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #MajorityMinority #LouisianaPolitics #FairMaps #VotingRightsAct #EndGerrymandering