Federal court makes final selection on 2024 congressional maps

On Thursday a federal court made their final selection on a new 2024 congressional map for Alabama that adequately addresses the dilution of Black voting power in the state.

The decision comes two days after the court heard arguments from interested parties about which of the three special master remedial maps they asserted the court should adopt. U.S. Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus said the court would “rule shortly” on Tuesday. The three-judge panel did just that and ruled that the state must adopt remedial plan 3. 

In their 49-page ruling, the panel said remedial plan 3 satisfies all the necessary requirements while at the same time remaining as close as possible to the Alabama Legislature’s 2023 plan. 

“As we explain, this plan satisfies all constitutional and statutory requirements while hewing as closely as reasonably possible to the Alabama Legislature’s 2023 Plan,” the ruling stated.

The court also elaborated that “Remedial Plan 3” did not split certain…