Federal judge denies motion to lift injunction; Alabama appeals to U.S. Supreme Court - NBC 15

A federal judge has denied Alabama’s request to lift an injunction blocking its congressional map, prompting the state to immediately appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a one-page order issued May 8, U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco denied Secretary of State Wes Allen’s emergency motion to stay the injunction, keeping the court-ordered congressional map in place. Within hours, Alabama filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to overturn that decision and reinstate its 2023 redistricting plan for upcoming elections. The legal battle centers on Alabama’s congressional districts and whether they comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Judge Clarence Thomas responding by giving the plaintiffs until 5pm today to respond. A federal district court previously ruled the state’s map likely diluted Black voting power and ordered new district lines, including a second majority-Black district. That court-drawn map has been used in recent elections and remains in place now. Alabama appealed that ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, where the case is still pending. In its latest filing, the state argues a recent Supreme Court decision in a Louisiana redistricting case could significantly impact Alabama’s case. Attorneys for the state say the lower court relied on legal standards that may no longer apply and argue Alabama should be allowed to use its legislatively approved map instead. The state is asking the high court to quickly intervene, warning it will otherwise be forced to continue using what it calls an unlawful, court-imposed map. The request comes just days before Alabama’s May 19 primary, creating urgency around which map will be used. The Alabama Legislature has now passed two bills — one allowing for special elections in congressional districts if lines change, and another authorizing special elections in two state Senate races. Governor Kay Ivey has signed both measures into law. The U.S. Supreme Court could: -Grant a stay and allow Alabama’s 2023 map to be used -Deny the request, keeping the current map in place -Or take up the broader appeal and rule at a later date For now, the court-ordered congressional map remains in effect as the case moves forward. ________________ More: https://mynbc15.com/news/local/fed-ju... Follow us: on BlueSky: https://mynbc15.bsky.social on Facebook:   / mynbc15   on Instagram:   / mynbc15   on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mynbc15/ on X:   / mynbc15   #localnews #nbc15 #channel15 #mobilenews