Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Federal Judges Strike Down 12 Alabama Legislative Districts

policymaker.alabama.gov

Federal judges have struck down 12 Alabama legislative districts, saying Republicans relied too heavily on race when drawing the lines. 
A three-judge panel ruled Friday in the long-running lawsuit over the legislative districts.

 
   The judges say 12 districts were unconstitutionally gerrymandered, and they blocked the Alabama Legislature from using them in future elections. The panel upheld 24 more challenged districts.  

The Legislative Black Caucus and the Alabama Democratic Conference challenged the GOP-drawn map. They argued African-American voters were "stacked and packed" into designated minority districts.

 
   Republican lawmakers argued they were trying to equalize uneven populations among the state's legislative districts.
 
   Judges have scheduled a February 14th status conference to discuss how to proceed.
 
   The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a review of the districts in 2015.
 

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.