Voting-rights groups push for quick ruling in Florida redistricting case
They request a fast track to the state Supreme Court after an appeal by Gov. Ron DeSantis slows the process TALLAHASSEE — Pointing to “urgency” as the 2022 elections near, attorneys for voting-rights groups requested Friday that a battle over a new congressional redistricting plan be put on a fast track to the Florida Supreme […]
State appeal puts redistricting ruling on hold
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Little more than an hour after a judge issued a temporary injunction against a new congressional redistricting plan, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration Thursday launched an appeal that put the ruling on hold. Attorneys for Secretary of State Laurel Lee, a defendant in the lawsuit filed by voting-rights groups and other plaintiffs, filed a […]
Judge’s order blocking DeSantis’ redistricting plan stayed on appeal
A Florida judge released a formal ruling Friday declaring Gov. Ron DeSantis’ congressional map unconstitutional and blocked it from going into effect. But the move was short lived, as officials with the governor’s office said they have already appealed — triggering an automatic stay of Friday’s ruling — and are prepared to take it all […]
DeSantis tries to rig elections by gerrymandering, but Florida judge says, hell no! | Opinion
Everyone familiar with basic Florida law knew that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to manhandle the redistricting process for political gain violated the Florida Constitution. But DeSantis went ahead anyway and used his office to draw congressional district map lines, blatantly favoring Republicans and disenfranchising the state’s Black voters. Two illegal moves in one act: Participation […]
RON DESANTIS’ REDISTRICTING MAP APPARENTLY DEEMED TOO RACIST EVEN FOR A DESANTIS-APPOINTED JUDGE
The Florida congressional map Ron DeSantis drew in an apparent effort to dilute the Black vote was blocked Wednesday as “unconstitutional” — by a federal judge the governor himself appointed. “The enacted map is unconstitutional under the Fair District amendment,” Leon County Circuit Court Judge Layne Smith said Wednesday, striking down part of DeSantis’ so-called “race neutral” map and ordering a […]
Revised complaint: DeSantis congressional redistricting plan targeted Black voters
Fresh arguments filed in a federal legal challenge to Florida’s new congressional redistricting plan accuse Gov. Ron DeSantis of blatant racism in diminishing Black voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice in North and Central Florida. In an amended complaint filed Wednesday in Common Cause of Florida v. Lee, civil rights groups allege the governor […]
Florida Judge Blocks DeSantis Redistricting Map That Would Affect Black Voters
TOPLINE A Florida judge said Wednesday he will reject a congressional map backed by Gov. Ron Desantis (R-Fla.), arguing the map violated the state constitution by disbanding a district with a large Black population—the latest state-level redistricting battle this year. During a hearing, Leon County Circuit Judge Layne Smith—who was appointed by DeSantis two years ago—said he […]
Florida judge blocks DeSantis’ congressional redistricting effort
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ bid to remake the state’s congressional map was dealt a major setback on Wednesday after a state judge said he would block the plan because of the way it scattered Black voters among several north Florida districts. DeSantis personally pushed the GOP-led Legislature to approve the map, which […]
Judge announces he’ll block DeSantis’ redistricting plan
A state judge has ruled that a congressional map approved by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and drawn by his staff is unconstitutional because it breaks up a district where Black voters can choose their representatives. Leon County Circuit Judge Layne Smith said Wednesday that he will issue a formal order Thursday or Friday to […]
Florida judge blocks Gov. DeSantis’ redistricting map from taking effect before midterm elections
A Florida judge said he will issue an order this week to keep a congressional map approved by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis from taking effect because it disperses Black voters. Leon County Circuit Judge Layne Smith said he would issue a formal order either Thursday or Friday to keep the maps from taking effect in November’s midterm election. Read […]
