Georgia’s map approval challenges extend to Cobb County school district
Federal Court Orders Redrawing of School Board Lines in Georgia
A federal court has issued a ruling that will require the Cobb County, Georgia, school district to redraw its school board lines for the upcoming elections. The decision comes after plaintiffs argued that the current map was a result of racial gerrymandering, disproportionately favoring white majorities while “packing” Latino and black voters into just three districts.
Judge Eleanor Ross of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia declared the current map to be a likely unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In her ruling, she stated, “The Court has found that the Enacted Map is substantially likely to be an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.”
The court has given Georgia lawmakers until January 10, 2024, to pass a new map for the school board election in 2024, which will involve four seats. Currently, the board has a 4-3 Republican majority. However, this timeline poses a challenge for lawmakers as the Georgia legislature’s regular session begins on January 8, 2024.
The school board has appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting a quick resolution to set aside the court order. They face a tight deadline to ensure a new map is in place before the upcoming elections.
This court decision is part of a larger trend in Georgia, where maps passed by the state legislature have been repeatedly struck down due to allegations of racial gerrymandering. Earlier this year, a federal court ruled that the state legislative and congressional maps violated the Voting Rights Act and demanded the creation of more black-majority districts.
The Georgia legislature recently passed new maps that claim to comply with the court order. However, these changes are unlikely to significantly alter the current Republican majorities in the state legislature or congressional delegation.
How did Judge Eleanor Ross of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia assess the current school board map in her ruling?
Federal Court Orders Redrawing of School Board Lines in Georgia
A federal court has issued a significant ruling that will require the Cobb County, Georgia, school district to redraw its school board lines for the upcoming elections. The decision comes after plaintiffs argued that the current map was a result of racial gerrymandering, disproportionately favoring white majorities while “packing” Latino and black voters into just three districts.
Judge Eleanor Ross of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia declared the current map to be a likely unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In her ruling, she stated, “The Court has found that the Enacted Map is substantially likely to be an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.”
The court has given Georgia lawmakers until January 10, 2024, to pass a new map for the school board election in 2024, which will involve four seats. Currently, the board has a 4-3 Republican majority. However, this timeline poses a challenge for lawmakers as the Georgia legislature’s regular session begins on January 8, 2024.
The school board has appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting a quick resolution to set aside the court’s order. They face a tight deadline to ensure a new map is in place before the upcoming elections.
This court decision is part of a larger trend in Georgia, where maps passed by the state legislature have been repeatedly struck down due to allegations of racial gerrymandering. Earlier this year, a federal court ruled that the state legislative and congressional maps violated the Voting Rights Act and demanded the creation of more black-majority districts.
The Georgia legislature recently passed new maps that claim to comply with the court order. However, these changes are unlikely to significantly alter the current Republican majorities in the state legislature or congressional delegation.
In conclusion, the federal court’s decision to order the redrawing of school board lines in Georgia is a significant step towards rectifying allegations of racial gerrymandering. However, it remains to be seen whether the upcoming maps will truly address the concerns raised and result in a fair and representative school board election. The timeline for lawmakers to enact the changes adds an additional layer of complexity to this issue, emphasizing the need for efficient and responsible action to ensure the integrity of the democratic process.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
