A federal appeals court in New Orleans has made a significant ruling on minority groups joining together in redistricting cases under the Voting Rights Act. In a divided decision on Thursday, the court stated that minority coalitions cannot claim their votes are diluted when challenging district maps. This decision marks a reversal of the court’s own previous rulings, acknowledging a case in Galveston County, Texas, where Black and Latino groups had united to contest district maps drawn by the county commission.
The federal district judge had initially rejected the maps, agreeing that they diluted minority voting strength. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had upheld the decision before the full court decided to reevaluate the issue, leading to a 12-6 decision on Thursday.
Judge Edith Jones, writing for the majority, explained that challenges by minority coalitions do not align with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and are not in line with Supreme Court precedents. The ruling contradicts a 1988 decision by the 5th Circuit and is anticipated to be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Jones, appointed to the court by former President Ronald Reagan, emphasized that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not allow multiple minority groups to combine efforts in a vote dilution claim. The dissenting opinion came from nominees of Democratic presidents and one Republican president, highlighting concerns about the implications of the majority’s decision on the effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act in the circuit.
Dissenting Judge Dana Douglas, nominated by President Joe Biden, emphasized the historical significance of Galveston County in Juneteenth celebrations and criticized the majority for disregarding established methods of statutory interpretation. The 5th Circuit, which reviews cases from federal district courts in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, may face further legal challenges following this ruling.
