In major move, judges block change to Alabama voting maps after redistricting: What happens now?
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said he would immediately appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ethan Parker 
A federal three-judge panel has issued a preliminary injunction that stops Alabama from moving forward with a Republican-favored congressional map. The decision creates a major roadblock for the special primary election currently scheduled for August 11.
Legislative Plan Halted
The court's ruling throws a wrench into the plan passed by the state Legislature, which intended to implement a map from 2023. That map was designed to provide Republicans with a renewed path to reclaim the District 2 seat, which they lost two years ago to Democrat Shomari Figures.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed his frustration with the decision, calling it an attempt to strike down a map that has been in place for decades. Marshall confirmed he will immediately challenge the ruling by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Court Weighs in on Discrimination
The three-judge panel—consisting of Judges Anna Marie Manasco, Terry F. Moorer, and Stanley Marcus—previously concluded that the Legislature’s 2023 map violated the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act by intentionally discriminating against Black voters. The judges emphasized that they could not, in good conscience, permit an election under a map deemed tainted by race-based discrimination.
The judges issued their ruling Tuesday following a hearing held last Friday. They determined that reverting to the court-drawn, race-blind map used in the 2024 election cycle is the most practical path forward, arguing that it avoids administrative chaos for state officials and voters.
The Path Ahead
Under the court's order, Alabama must conduct its remaining congressional elections for Districts 1, 2, 6, and 7 using the previously established court-drawn boundaries. The court-drawn map had designated District 2 as an opportunity district, featuring a population that is roughly 49% Black.
While the court acknowledged the Supreme Court's guidance on avoiding last-minute changes to election plans, the panel maintained that the current situation requires intervention to ensure a fair process. AG Marshall remains defiant, stating, "Know this—in my mind, it is not a matter of whether we win this case, only when."
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
