Judges Reject Black-Majority District
A divided federal appeals panel threw out state-drawn boundaries of a black-majority Georgia congressional district and placed elections there on hold so the judges can redraw the district themselves.
The panel agreed with white voters who challenged the district’s lines that it was gerrymandered to provide more black voters, in violation of the Constitution.
“The assumption that the sole means of enhancing blacks’ political influence is to pack them into such districts is unimaginative,” Monday’s 2-1 ruling said.
The judges said no election can be held for the 11th District congressional seat of Rep. Cynthia McKinney until the boundaries are redrawn. They plan to consult state experts in remapping the district.
The panel’s dissenter, Judge J. L. Edmondson of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, said he thinks the congressional district is constitutional and reapportionment should be left to the states.
State Atty. Gen. Michael Bowers said he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the election with the existing boundaries. A hearing was scheduled for Oct. 3 to consider suggestions for new district lines.
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