The Supreme Court has agreed to a postponement of court proceedings that could result in the creation of a second black congressional district in Louisiana.
If implemented, this proposal would provide greater opportunities for black voters to elect their preferred candidate.
The court rejected the requests of black voters to challenge the map created by the Republican-led state legislature. However, the order says that a revised map could be created once litigation on the issue is completed. This means that the request has not been completely thrown out.
The court did not provide any instructions on what should happen next and did not provide any rationale for refusing to uphold the order from the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. No dissents were noted.
Louisiana is one of several states where battles over redistricting continue after the 2020 Census. The outcome of those battles could impact which party controls the House of Representatives after the 2024 elections.
The Louisiana case involves complex legal issues on the dilution of power of black voters in the state.
Judge Shelly Dick, who presided over the case, concluded last year that the map created by Republicans likely violates the Voting Rights Act and unfairly disadvantages black voters.
Despite black voters comprising one-third of the electorate, only one out of six congressional districts is majority black.
