The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 9, 2025
A three-judge panel dismissed a case June 6th by a group of Black Arkansas voters that the state legislature racially gerrymandered Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District. It’s the state’s fourth redistricting challenge since 2021.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in 2023’s Alexander vs. South Carolina NAACP directed that when hearing racial gerrymandering cases, federal courts should, QUOTE “start with the presumption that the legislature acted in good faith.” The Arkansas legislature’s voting district maps have been challenged four times since 2021.
In 2023, the 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s radical ruling in a state House map gerrymandering case that Arkansas voters did not have a right to sue under the 1965 Voting Rights Act. It ruled only the DOJ could bring a VRA challenge, and the opinion spawned copycat GOP suits which failed in other jurisdictions.
The latest Arkansas challenge used provisions in the 14th and 15th amendments to argue the legislature unconstitutionally split Black communities in the 2nd Congressional District and dilute their voting power. But a three-judge 8th Circuit appeals court panel found plaintiff Christian Ministerial Alliance had not proven racial gerrymandering, a higher bar than partisan gerrymandering, an outcome of the South Carolina case.
There’s an awful lot of smoke from the Arkansas legislature’s gerrymandered voting districts, but no racial gerrymandering fire, at least according to the courts. We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – (2024) U.S. Supreme Court Finds South Carolina Gerrymandering Case ‘Bleaching’ Congressional District Not Racially Motivated
American Redistricting Project – Arkansas Redistricting Process American Democracy Minute – (2024) Federal Appeals Court Denies Rehearing of Radical Arkansas Voting Rights Act Ruling Shutting Out Voters & Democracy Groups from Bringing CasesAmerican Redistricting Project – Christian Ministerial Alliance v. Thurston
Arkansas Advocate – Federal panel rules in favor of state in Arkansas congressional redistricting lawsuit
U.S. District Court – Order in Christian Ministerial Alliance v. John Thurston
Groups Taking Action:
Christian Ministerial Alliance , Legal Defense Fund
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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