NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s Democratic governor stated Monday he’ll name the Republican-dominated Legislature into particular session quickly to attract up new congressional district boundaries, now {that a} federal choose has blocked use of maps which have just one majority-Black district.
Gov. John Bel Edwards introduced his plan at a information convention on the Capitol in Baton Rouge. He spoke to reporters minutes after the 2022 common legislative session ended, and some hours after U.S. District Choose Shelly Dick, additionally in Baton Rouge, blocked the usage of the brand new maps. Her ruling included an order that the Legislature draw up with a remedial plan by June 20.
Edwards, whose veto of the maps was overridden by lawmakers earlier this yr, stated there ought to have been a second majority-Black district among the many six districts that had been authorised, noting that the state’s inhabitants is sort of one-third Black.
Edwards stated redrawing the district traces is required by the courtroom order, the Voting Rights Act and by “fundamental equity and fundamental math.”
However, legal professionals for Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, the state’s high elected official, swiftly filed a discover of enchantment of Dick’s order.
Dick’s June 20 deadline for drawing new district traces is one month earlier than the signup interval for the Nov. 8 congressional election.
“If the Legislature is unable to cross a remedial plan by that date, the Courtroom will concern further orders to enact a remedial plan compliant with the legal guidelines and Structure of the US,” the choose wrote.
The district map was drawn up in a particular session earlier this yr throughout a legislative particular session referred to as to redraw authorities district traces to account for inhabitants shifts present within the 2020 census. Edwards vetoed the maps however his veto was overridden. That led to a lawsuit by voting rights advocates.
Ardoin filed a discover of enchantment with the fifth U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals in New Orleans. Finally, the case might wind up earlier than the Supreme Courtroom, which earlier this yr placed on maintain a decrease courtroom ruling that Alabama should draw new congressional districts earlier than the 2022 elections to extend Black voting energy.
Ardoin’s workplace declined touch upon the litigation.
In blocking the usage of the map pending additional elections, Dick stated these submitting the lawsuit had been prone to prevail with their argument that the brand new districts violate the federal Voting Rights Act. She blocked Ardoin from conducting any elections utilizing the brand new map.
