Racially gerrymandered districts in Alabama's largest county have been ordered for revision by a federal judge
Jefferson County, home to Birmingham and the center of Alabama's largest metropolitan area, is set for a change in its political landscape. U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala has ruled that the Jefferson County commission districts are unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering.
The ruling permanently prohibits the Commission and its agents from using the 2021 plan in Jefferson County Commission elections. The court-appointed expert or special master designated by the judge will now oversee the repainting of the district lines.
The current composition of the Jefferson County Commission is three Republicans and two Democrats. The Commission is responsible for various aspects that impact daily life in the county, including but not limited to, infrastructure, education, and public safety.
The industrial city, where the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church occurred, has evolved into a corporate economic engine fueled in part by the banking and medical industries.
The ruling came after a 2023 lawsuit alleging that the plan overly packed Black voters, who make up 40% of the county population, into just two districts. The commission, according to the ruling, drew districts with race as the predominant factor.
Kathryn Sadasivan, assistant counsel with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, stated that the existing plan overly packed Black voters into the two districts while the county sought to maintain set racial ratios in the other three. Cara McClure, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit and the executive director of Faith and Works Statewide Civic Engagement Collective, expressed anticipation for the commission to 'come to the table to finally draw a map that is fair to Black voters in the county.'
Jefferson County Attorney Theo Lawson is currently reviewing the order to determine next steps. Haikala noted in a footnote that the results of the case might be different if the commission showed evidence that the higher percentage of Black voters was required to ensure they could select the candidates of their choice, but the commission offered no such evidence.
A new map could shift the balance of power in Jefferson County, potentially leading to a more representative and equitable political landscape. The court-appointed expert or special master will guide this process, ensuring compliance with the ruling and the pursuit of fair representation for all residents of Jefferson County.
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