New Louisiana congressional map draws more criticism from litigants

Parties in the litigation that overturned Louisiana’s previous congressional map containing two Black-majority districts have roundly criticized the state’s new map – with some saying it’s still a racial gerrymander and others arguing it dilutes’ minorities’ voting power.

In a filing in the Western District of Louisiana this week, the plaintiffs questioned whether the new map, which was passed by the Legislature as Senate Bill 121 and signed by Gov. Jeff Landry last month, is consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana v. Callais decision. That ruling declared the previous map a racial gerrymander that violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

“Less certain is whether the (new) map has avoided adopting racial line-drawing around District 2, where at least one plaintiff still resides,” the plaintiffs said in this week’s filing. “In t...