Order To Redo Louisiana Maps Temporarily Halted By Circuit Court

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Thursday issued an administrative stay that blocks a judge’s order that Louisiana should redraw its new congressional map to include a second majority-Black district.

A three-judge panel of the court issued a pause of the lower court ruling, granting a request from Louisiana Republican lawmakers. The court asked both sides in the case to file responses to the motion no later than 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

Chief District Judge Shelly Dick of the US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on June 6 blocked the map, which was crafted by the state’s GOP-led legislature, giving state lawmakers until June 20 to redraw the district lines.

Lawmakers crafted a congressional map with only a single majority-Black district. Roughly a third of Louisiana’s residents are Black. Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards had pushed for a second majority-Black district within the state’s six seat US House delegation.

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The case is Robinson v. Ardoin, 5th Cir. App., No 22-30333, 6/9/22, 5th Cir., No. 22-30333.

To contact the reporter on this story: Meghashyam Mali in Washington at mmali@bloombergindustry.com