Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with 19 other attorneys general, has submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting Louisiana's revised congressional map. The map includes two majority-Black districts and was drawn after a court order found that the state's original map likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by containing only one majority-Black district.

Attorney General Bonta stated, "There is nothing more fundamental to our democracy than the constitutional right to vote." He emphasized the importance of allowing states flexibility in addressing violations of the Voting Rights Act.

In 2022, Louisiana's legislature enacted a congressional map featuring one majority-Black district. This map faced challenges under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discriminatory voting practices based on race or membership in minority language groups. A district court ordered a new map with two majority-Black districts. However, this revised map was also challenged as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

The coalition of attorneys general argues that states should have leeway in redrawing electoral districts to address Voting Rights Act violations. They contend that Louisiana had "good reason" for its revised map due to the initial finding against its original plan. The brief also urges the Supreme Court to reject an Alabama-led coalition's request to overturn precedent upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Joining Attorney General Bonta are attorneys general from Washington D.C., New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington state and Wisconsin.

A copy of the brief is available for public access.