Alabama Lawmakers Blatantly Defy Court Orders on Redistricting, Undermining Black Voting Power

A federal court determined that Alabama legislators purposefully disenfranchised Black voters by neglecting to revise the congressional district boundaries to incorporate a second majority-Black district, defying an earlier federal mandate. In a landmark 2023 ruling, the Supreme Court reaffirmed violations of the Voting Rights Act concerning a map that severely misrepresented Black residents. After prolonged legal battles, a special master was appointed to create a fairer map, leading to Rep. Shomari Figures' historic election in 2024, marking a pivotal moment in Alabama’s political landscape.