Federal court challenging the state legislative districts as a dilution of Black voting strength, in violation of § 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

The trial court denied a motion to dismiss on Jan. 28, 2022.  On Feb. 28, 2022, the court denied a motion for a preliminary injunction, finding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims but declining to change the districts at that point in the calendar because of potential disruption to the election process.  On July 17, 2023, the court denied the state’s motion for summary judgment, sending the case to trial.

On Oct. 26, 2023, after trial, the trial court struck the state legislative maps (and in a related case, the congressional maps), finding violations of § 2 of the Voting Rights Act.  On Dec. 8, 2023, the state enacted remedial plans, which the trial court approved on Dec. 28, 2023.

The liability and remedial decisions have both been appealed to the Eleventh Circuit.