Officials in Alabama filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court on Monday asking them to revisit the proposed congressional map that has created controversy over its lack of a second majority-Black district.
A federal court in Alabama recently struck down the state’s congressional map because it did not include a required second majority Black and African American district, ignoring a Supreme Court ruling from earlier this year where they asked for two majority Black districts or something “close to” that effect.
However, Alabama officials are still pushing for their map to be approved, telling the high court that redrawing to include the second district would “sacrifice” other priorities in the redistricting, claiming the map still complies with the law.
The emergency appeal comes just after a panel of judges denied an attempt to stay a ruling that struck down the map.
The three-judge panel found that the legislature had violated civil rights law for not drawing a second district aimed at opening opportunities for Black voters in the states to cast their ballots. Despite protest from Democrats, the majority-Republican legislature approved the map before the high court rejected it.
A special master, who is appointed by the judge panel, will have until Sept. 25 to draft three map proposal that’s are in compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution, including a second majority-Black district or a better opportunity for Black voters to elect a representative.