By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY–A law suit filled in Montgomery County seeks to block redistricting.
It is believed that Alabama Democrats are behind the suit following the old adage, “If you don’t have the votes, you litigate.”
According to the suit from McPhillips/Shinbaum on behalf of Landis Sexton and Cubie Rae Hayes, the plaintiffs contends that the the 1901 Alabama Constitution requires that reapportionment occur in the first Legislative Session following the Census. Because reapportionment is being handled in a Special Session the plaintiffs are asking for a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order with the goal of the Court taking over the reapportionment proceedings.
According to sources, in years passed the Democrat-controlled legislature has many times pasted redistricting in special session.
Representative Jim McClendon (R-Springville) Co-Chair of the Committee on Redistricting and a named defendant in the lawsuit said, “I am not surprised that the Democrats are suing. We will continue to move forward with fair and honest reapportionment for all districts and all people, following our constitutional mandate and in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.”
Listed as defendants in the lawsuit are; Robert Bentley, Governor; Beth Chapman, Secretary of State; Greg Pappas, Secretary of the House of the Alabama Representatives; Pat Harris, Secretary of the Alabama Senate; Mike Hubbard, Speaker of Alabama House of Representatives; Del Marsh, President pro tem-pore of the Alabama Senate; Jim McClendon, House Chairman of Joint Committee on Reapportionment; and Gerald Dial, Senate Chairman of Joint Committee on Reapportionment.
