By Alabama Daily NewsMary Sell
Plaintiffs who alleged in 2021 that nearly a quarter of Alabama Senate and House districts were racially gerrymandered in the most recent redrawing of district maps have narrowed the scope of their lawsuit.
Court filings show the areas of concern focus now on Senate districts in Montgomery and Huntsville. Attorney General Steve Marshall, representing the state in the federal lawsuit, said Thursday the challenges were dropped in other districts after he moved to dis- miss the claims.
“For two years, my office has been defending the state’s redistricting plans,” Marshall said in a written statement Thursday. “I am pleased to report that the plaintiffs have dropped all their challenges to the State House districts and nearly all their challenges to the State Senate districts. “We think the plaintiffs’ remaining two claims also lack merit. I will continue to defend Alabama’s laws and fight attempts to redraw our districts based on racial goals rather than common interests.” The 2021 lawsuit challenged 12 of the state’s 35 Senate districts and 21 of105 House districts.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of voters in Tuscaloosa and Montgomery and plaintiffs included Greater Birmingham Ministries, Alabama NAACP.
