Current:Home > MarketsJudge: Louisiana legislative districts dilute Black voting strength, violate the Voting Rights Act-LoTradeCoin
Judge: Louisiana legislative districts dilute Black voting strength, violate the Voting Rights Act
lotradecoin features View Date:2024-12-25 12:44:25
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New state House and Senate boundary lines drawn up by the Louisiana Legislature in 2022 dilute Black voting strength in violation of the U.S. Voting Rights Act, a federal judge in Baton Rouge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick’s ruling blocked the use of the House and Senate district maps in future elections and gave the state “a reasonable period of time, to be determined by the Court” to draw up new districts. The order comes weeks after the Legislature passed a congressional map with a second majority-Black district, in part as a result of litigation over which she presided.
Dick’s filing noted that the state’s voting-age population is about 33% Black. But only 11 of 39 state Senate districts and 29 of 105 House districts are predominantly Black — less than a third in each case.
In a document accompanying the ruling, she pointed to “illustrative plans” suggested by plaintiffs who challenged the new districts that would increase majority-minority Senate districts to 14 and House districts to 35.
Dick did not order that the plaintiffs’ illustrative plans be adopted, but said the existing districts could not stand, ruling that “the Enacted Maps do not afford an equal opportunity for Black voters to elect preferred candidates.”
New maps could affect a legislative balance of power that now overwhelmingly favors Republicans in a state where the GOP is dominant. New Gov. Jeff Landry is a Republican who regained the top government job for the party after it was held for two terms by a Democrat. Republicans hold more than two-thirds of the seats in each legislative chamber — veto-proof majorities. A new map with more Black districts could dent that majority, as Black voters traditionally have been more likely to favor Democrats.
“This decision sets a powerful precedent for challenging discriminatory redistricting efforts across the nation, confirming that attempts to dilute Black communities’ votes and their power will not be tolerated,” said Megan Keenan, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Voting Rights Project. The ACLU was part of a coalition of voters and organizations that challenged the maps.
veryGood! (14)
Related
- GM to retreat from robotaxis and stop funding its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit
- Dollar Tree sued by Houston woman who was sexually assaulted in a store
- Hosting This Summer? You Need To See These Stylish Patio Furniture Finds & Get Your Backyard Summer-Ready
- Ex-top prosecutor for Baltimore to be sentenced for mortgage fraud and perjury convictions
- The Sundance Film Festival unveils its lineup including Jennifer Lopez, Questlove and more
- Louisiana lawmakers advance bill to reclassify abortion drugs, worrying doctors
- Georgia, Ohio State lead college football's NCAA Re-Rank 1-134 after spring practice
- Former University of Arizona grad student found guilty of murder in campus shooting of professor
- Drew Barrymore has been warned to 'back off' her guests after 'touchy' interviews
- Are you spending more money shopping online? Remote work could be to blame.
Ranking
- China's ruling Communist Party expels former chief of sports body
- Woman looks to sue after NJ casino refuses to pay disputed $1.27 million slot machine prize
- Republican National Committee’s headquarters evacuated after vials of blood are addressed to Trump
- It wasn't just the endless shrimp: Red Lobster's troubles detailed in bankruptcy filing
- China says Philippines has 'provoked trouble' in South China Sea with US backing
- Family of American caught in Congo failed coup says their son went to Africa on vacation
- Texas health department appoints anti-abortion OB-GYN to maternal mortality committee
- White House pushes tech industry to shut down market for sexually abusive AI deepfakes
Recommendation
-
Sabrina Carpenter Shares Her Self
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, More or Less
-
Scary Mommy Blog Creator Jill Smokler Diagnosed With Aggressive Form of Brain Cancer
-
Multiple people killed by Iowa tornado as powerful storms slam Midwest
-
The brewing recovery in Western North Carolina
-
Commissioner Goodell declines to expand on NFL’s statement on Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker
-
WNBA rookie power rankings: Cameron Brink shines; Caitlin Clark struggles
-
Graceland sale halted by judge in Tennessee after Elvis Presley's granddaughter alleges fraud
Tags
-
lotradecoin identity
lotradecoin guide
lotradecoin regulatory compliance overview
lotradecoin futures trading platform
lotradecoin cryptocurrency exchange
lotradecoin peer-to-peer trading features
lotradecoin trading signals and analysis
lotradecoin market analysis tools
lotradecoin market depth insights