Federal Judge Orders New Jefferson County Commission Map, Citing Racial Gerrymandering

BIRMINGHAM, AL (BuzzReport) – A federal judge has ruled that Jefferson County’s current five-district map for its County Commission violates the constitutional rights of Black voters, ordering the commission to redraw its electoral boundaries. U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala concluded in a 139-page decision Tuesday that county leaders failed to prove race was not the primary consideration in drawing the 2021 district lines, a clear violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The ruling, issued late Tuesday, could significantly reshape the political landscape of Alabama’s most populous county. Judge Haikala has permanently prohibited the use of the 2021 map in future elections, demanding a remedial redistricting plan be submitted to the court within 30 days.

At the heart of the legal challenge, brought forth by a coalition of plaintiffs including the NAACP and Greater Birmingham Ministries, was the accusation that the current map illegally concentrated Black voters into two districts and diminished their influence in others. This arrangement currently results in a County Commission with three White, Republican members and two Black, Democratic commissioners, despite Jefferson County voters having elected Black Democrats to other county-wide positions like Sheriff and District Attorney.

Judge Haikala firmly sided with the plaintiffs, stating the county’s defense that the map was a continuation of a 1986 consent decree, or that adjustments were merely for population balance and voter convenience, was insufficient to overcome the evidence of racial gerrymandering. Attorneys for the county had argued that any line changes were based on permissible political preferences, not race. However, the judge found that the county did not demonstrate that race was absent as a major factor.

This landmark decision offers a substantial victory for those advocating for fair representation. Birmingham attorney Richard Rice, representing 11 plaintiffs in the case, hailed the ruling as “a victory for the entire county that is long overdue.”

The Jefferson County Commission now has the first opportunity to propose a new map that complies with constitutional standards. Should they fail to do so, the plaintiffs reserve the right to submit their own proposed map, and the court may also appoint a special master to oversee the redistricting process.

The next elections for the Jefferson County Commission are scheduled for 2026, with party primaries in May and the general election in November. County Attorney Theo Lawson indicated that the county is “reviewing the order to determine next steps.”