Alabama officials asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to restore state legislative authority over congressional redistricting, challenging a lower court decision that requires the use of a judicially imposed electoral map instead of one drawn by elected lawmakers. The state's Republican leadership filed an emergency appeal with the justices a day after a three-judge court refused to let the state use a map it adopted three years ago that has a majority Black population in just one of its seven congressional districts.
Attorney General Steve Marshall told the court that the state did not intentionally discriminate against Black residents and should be allowed to hold elections this year under a map chosen by lawmakers, not judges. The appeal represents a fundamental dispute over whether state legislatures or federal courts should have final authority in drawing congressional boundaries.
The Judicial Override
The judges instead required Alabama to continue using a court-ordered map that was put in place for the 2024 elections that includes two districts where Black residents comprise a majority or close to it. The judicial panel said it was standing behind its initial finding that there was "undisputed evidence" of intentional racial discrimination, a holding that was independent of and unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.
The three-judge panel in 2023 ruled that a map drawn by Republican state lawmakers intentionally diluted the voting power of Black citizens. The court said the state, which is about 27% Black, should have two districts where Black voters are the majority or close to it. The court-selected map was used in 2024.
Federal Support and Electoral Timeline
Trump's Justice Department backed Alabama's appeal, noting that Alabama is "highly likely to succeed" in its bid to implement a map the administration says would favor Republicans 6-1 in place of a court-ordered "racial gerrymander." The redistricting frenzy is part of a broader push by President Donald Trump to try to hold on to Republicans' slim House majority in the November elections.
The appeal is the latest development in the fallout from last month's Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana and weakened the federal Voting Rights Act. That ruling has led Republicans in several Southern states, including Alabama, to take steps to reshape voting districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats.
Immediate Practical Impact
Voters cast ballots in Alabama's May 19 primaries, and Republican Gov. Kay Ivey set new special primaries for Aug. 11 in four congressional districts affected by the map switch. The state is asking for Supreme Court action by Monday as it makes preparations for the special vote in August.
After the Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Louisiana case, Alabama officials moved to implement the 2023 state-drawn map. The Supreme Court's conservative majority agreed to lift the injunction that had blocked the map's use and sent the case back to the three-judge panel for reconsideration in light of the Louisiana ruling.
The use of the court-ordered map led to the 2024 election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. State Republicans are seeking to use a map that would give the GOP an opportunity to reclaim the south Alabama seat.
Why This Matters:
This case raises fundamental questions about the balance of power between elected state legislatures and federal courts in determining electoral boundaries. The dispute centers on whether democratically accountable state officials or appointed judges should make decisions that directly affect political representation and election outcomes. The immediate practical consequences include potential disruption to Alabama's August special primaries and uncertainty for candidates and voters about which districts they will contest. More broadly, the case could influence how states respond to Voting Rights Act challenges and whether recent Supreme Court precedents limit judicial intervention in redistricting disputes. The outcome will affect not only Alabama's congressional delegation but also the national balance of power in the House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a slim majority.