Monday, the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) announced that it had filed a motion with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the state’s arguments concerning the legal battle over congressional redistricting.
Attorney General Steve Marshall last week filed an emergency petition asking the high court to halt the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama’s order that requires congressional candidate qualifying to be extended until the state’s district map was redrawn.
The Alabama Legislature is charged with the task of redrawing the state’s congressional map due to the court deciding that it was “substantially likely” that the state had violated the Voting Rights Act.
The ALGOP’s brief outlines its contention that the three-judge panel had inappropriately based its decision on racial outcomes rather than the state’s long-established redistricting procedures.
ALGOP chairman John Wahl asserted that the lower court’s ruling had served to “disrupt” the party’s qualifying process by extending the deadline.
“The federal court has created uncertainty at this late hour in the primary election calendar. This election cycle has already started, and it would be unduly burdensome to both the candidates and voters to disrupt the primary at this time,” proclaimed Wahl. “This court ruling also affects the district lines used to organize our ALGOP membership and Steering Committee.”
He added, “The ALGOP has a long history of defending civil liberties and minorities, from our days as the party of Lincoln to the Civil Rights Movement. Under my leadership, the Alabama Republican Party will continue the fight for free and fair elections for all the people of Alabama.”
The ALGOP advised that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has requested that the suit’s plaintiffs file their response with the court by Wednesday at noon.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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