Federal judge OKs new GOP-drawn congressional map in Georgia

CBS News ^ | 12/28/23 | Melissa Quinn

[CFW]

Washington — A federal judge in Georgia on Thursday approved a congressional map redrawn by the state's GOP-led legislature after its original voting lines were found to be crafted in violation of federal voting rights law.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones said in a 15-page order that the General Assembly "fully complied" with his October order that required the creation of a majority-Black congressional district in the western part of metro Atlanta. His acceptance of the new map, which maintains Republicans' 9-5 edge for its congressional delegation, sets up the new bounds to be used in the 2024 election.

Jones also approved new legislative maps for state Senate and House districts, which he found were originally crafted in a racially discriminatory manner. The judge said in his earlier order that state lawmakers had to redraw two new Black-majority districts in Georgia's state Senate and five new Black-majority districts in its state House.

Jones had given the Republican-led General Assembly and governor until Dec. 8 to adopt redistricting plans that remedied the violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. State lawmakers convened for a special session in late November and passed the new congressional and legislative district lines, which were signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp earlier this month.

[CFW]

So, the democrats got their new "majority-minority" district in Georgia.

[PermaRag]

If you’re referring to the new *congressional* district map, NOTHING has changed as far as which party is going to win any specific district. The GOP will maintain its 9-5 advantage in Congress from the state of Georgia.

It’s a surprise because it’s a WIN for Republicans — from an Obama Democrat judge; the Rats were desperately counting on him to cost the GOP one seat and make it 8-6 instead of 9-5.

All that happened at the *congressional* level is that one district which ALREADY had a black Democrat representing it, has been altered to comply with the racial mandate set forth by the judge.

Democrats are crying.

[gibsonguy]

Damn it. It is not within the prevue of the Judiciary.

[LS]

Big.

[Dr. Franklin]

The power of judges and the judiciary to veto the constitutional powers of a state legislature needs to be addressed. I can accept some objective criteria for how many people in a congressional district, or how many sides a district may have, or what can be the limits of a congressional district, i.e., roads, water bodies of a certain size, mountain peaks, etc., but there is just too much judicial meddling in the legislatures power to create legislative districts. Ultimately, its a political decision, and I am tired of all of the racism allegations