On Monday February 7, 2022 the Supreme Court ruled on a 5-4 vote to uphold an Alabama congressional map that decreases the power of African Americans voters. The Court’s decision was brought about after the Federal District Court found that the state’s seven congressional districts are too polarized, which led to the proposition of creating two districts that are majority Black. Therefore, with Alabama having these two new districts it will allow for African Americans, who make up 27% of the vote, to elect their favored candidate.
The state of Alabama urged the Supreme Court to hold their decision until they appeal and the Supreme Court agreed. The Supreme Court’s decision to keep the challenged map allows for only one majority-Black district that is primarily Democratic. Furthermore, “the Court’s action came in an unsigned order, without full briefing or argument, though the court will eventually hear arguments in the case, either later this term or, more likely, next fall.” Thus, the Supreme Court’s decision has left the citizens of Alabama to believe their rights to vote are being violated.
It is made clear that the more conservative Supreme Court is attacking what the Voting Rights Act was established to do. Allowing for the congressional map to stay how it is, insists that the Supreme Court is not afraid to challenge the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Notably, despite the Supreme Court and the lower court who both lean more conservatively, the lower court came to a conclusion that the new map was no doubt a violation of the Voting Rights Act. Furthermore, the Court not reviewing the details of the case made it easier to come to their rushed conclusion. Overall, the Court in this case has reinforced voter discrimination and has stuck down what many people have worked hard to fight against.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group Blog. If you are in need of legal help, the CIMA Law Group is a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona which specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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