Fifth Circuit Archives | American Democracy Minute

Louisiana Legislature Hashes Out New Court-Ordered Congressional Maps with Two Majority Black Districts

January 17, 2024January 17, 2024

Racing the clock, the Louisiana legislature meets this week to hash out new court-ordered Congressional voting districts, with two of them being majority Black. They’re also considering new state supreme court districts.

Ripple Effects After Radical Federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Restricting Who Can Bring Voting Rights Act Suits; Red State AGs Pile On

December 14, 2023December 17, 2023

We reported in November on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision restricting lawsuits based on the 1965 Voting Rights Act to be filed ONLY by the U.S. Attorney General, seen by most court watchers as radical and ignoring precedent. But it’s already having ripple effects across the nation.

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

November 13, 2023November 13, 2023

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.

SCOTUS Said Alabama’s 26% Black Population Should have Two Congressional Districts. Why is a Federal Court is Holding Up Maps Which Could Give Louisiana’s 33% Black Population Its Two Districts?

October 2, 2023December 29, 2023

Alabama’s population is 26% Black, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Allen v. Milligan decision mandated two majority minority Congressional districts under the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana is 33% Black, but on Sept. 29th, a federal appeals court stopped the drawing of two Black Congressional districts.