Louisiana appeals latest federal ruling, asks to use new Congressional map in 2024 elections
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana filed a notice appealing the decision of a three-judge panel order against the state's new Congressional maps on Tuesday, May 8.
A stay was also requested of the Louisiana Supreme Court by voting rights advocates, according to court documents.
Attorney General Liz Murrill and Gov. Jeff Landry wish to keep the new Louisiana Congressional district for this year's election.
"The State has argued that a decision on what map will be used in the 2024 congressional elections must be final in just seven days, by May 15, 2024, to allow the Secretary of State sufficient time to administer congressional elections this fall," court filings show.
In January 2024, Landry signed a bill that would create a second Black-majority Congressional district. The new district would stretch from Baton Rouge to Shreveport. Some legislators said it would protect the districts of some GOP leaders, such as U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Representative Julia Letlow.
A group of voters were against the new Congressional map, arguing in a federal lawsuit that they considered it unconstitutional and drawn with race as a dominant factor.
A panel of Supreme Court justices said the newest map adopted by lawmakers can't be used. They ordered that the Louisiana Legislature must pass a new map by June 3 or they will construct one themselves.
By May 17, each party should submit a proposal that should include a proposed new map, evidence and argument supporting the map. By May 30, parties will attend a hearing to deliberate their evidence and arguments for the proposed maps.