Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Courts

Court rejects AG’s argument that private citizens can’t bring VRA Section 2 claims

The ruling allows a Louisiana redistricting case to continue and sets up a potential clash at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Attorney General Steve Marshall gives a speech during the inaugural ceremony on Jan. 16, 2023. Inauguration Committee/Bryan Carter
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

After twice failing to convince the courts that Alabama had complied with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, Steve Marshall gave his opinion in a Louisiana suit that private individuals shouldn’t even be able to bring such suits.

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that claim Friday, allowing the Louisiana redistricting case to continue and setting up a potential clash at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The argument came after the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that only the U.S. attorney General can file challenges against redistricting maps.

Neither decision directly affects Alabama—which is in the 11th Circuit—but the argument could have future impacts for challenges to unfair maps.

“There is no Section 2 liability unless ‘it is shown that’ members of a protected class ‘have less opportunity’ not just ‘to elect representatives of their choice’ but also ‘to participate in the political process,’” the motion argued.

Zephyr Scalzetti, senior digital organizer at Alabama Values, said the move appears to be a response to Alabama’s redistricting case Allen v. Milligan and the “spate of wins” that immediately followed in other states.

“It’s a way to kill Section 2 without overtly killing Section 2,” Scalzetti said.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

With the two circuit courts now in disagreement over whether there can be a private right of action, the Supreme Court could weigh in.

Jacob Holmes is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can reach him at jholmes@alreporter.com

More from APR

Courts

The settlement agreement ends the outstanding parts of the ongoing litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Congress

The expense is added to an already hefty bill for the suit, with the state paying outside counsel to assist.

Prisons

Alabama inmate Alan Eugene Miller reached an agreement with the state and his execution, using nitrogen hypoxia, is slated for next month.

State

24 states, including Alabama, ask the Supreme Court to block new EPA rules on coal and gas power plant emissions.