The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an emergency bid from Alabama, setting the stage for a new congressional map likely to include a second Black majority district to account for the state’s 27% Black population.
The one-line order reflects that the feelings on the court haven’t changed since June when a 5-4 Supreme Court affirmed a lower court that had ordered the state to redraw its seven-seat congressional map to include a second majority-Black district or “something quite close to it.”
There were no noted dissents.
The case has been closely watched because after the court’s June ruling, Alabama GOP lawmakers again approved a congressional map with only one majority-Black district, seemingly flouting the Supreme Court’s decision that they provide more political representation for the state’s Black residents.
I think this is the one time he went with the same members of the court. There were no dissents. Take your guess, is he trying to reduce controversy on himself, or is he pissed that Bama tried to undermine his authority?
Usually the rule of thumb is to follow the money, however in this case it’s seeing where the money is not coming from. Having one district in AL flip from Republican to Democrat isn’t going to cause Thomas to loose an all expenses paid vacation or a complimentary personal jet trip.