Federal Courts Dismissed Challenges to 2023 Legislative Maps

Last week, a federal three judge panel issued a 181-page ruling dismissing the lawsuits brought over the 2023 Congressional and state legislative maps. The progressive groups the lawsuit argued that Republicans acted incorrectly in drawing this maps, but the court disagreed with the analysis.  

The ruling says: Upon considering the totality of circumstances, we find that Plaintiffs have failed to prove that boundaries of SD 1 and 2 have ‘a disparate effect on the account of race.’ To the contrary, the evidence convincingly demonstrates that ‘voting is equally open and affords equal opportunity to black and white North Carolinians alike.”  

The judges continue saying, “Having considered the entire record, judged the credibility of each witness, and weighed all the evidence, the Court finds the Plaintiffs have failed to prove any of their claims against the Defendants regarding the 2023 redistricting.”  

All three federal judges were appointed by Republican Presidents. The ruling effectively dismissed several redistricting issues for 2023, but the Court as not ruled on the 2025 redistricting process.