Judges will only consider race in legislative district fight

Judges say they will only look at accusations of racial gerrymandering as they review Alabama’s legislative districts for a second time.

A judicial panel ruled in a Friday decision that they will only examine whether majority-black legislative districts were unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

The U.S Supreme Court in March said the lower court must take another look at whether Alabama’s Republican-led legislature relied too heavily on race in drawing the lines. Black lawmakers challenged the plan, saying it limited minority voting power by packing black voters into designated districts.

An attorney representing black lawmakers said he was disappointed and will ask the court to reconsider. He said the judges should also consider whether lawmakers improperly split counties as they drew the districts.

Republished with permission of The Associated Press.