Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

Federal judge blocks Jacksonville City Council districts as racial gerrymanders

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by philnotfil, Oct 12, 2022.

  1. philnotfil

    philnotfil GC Hall of Fame

    17,702
    1,785
    1,718
    Apr 8, 2007
    Will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Maybe they redraw the lines, maybe they appeal the ruling.

    'Racial segregation': Federal judge blocks Jacksonville council districts as racial gerrymanders

    A federal judge has barred Jacksonville from using its City Council and Duval School Board district maps, finding that seven City Council and three School Board districts were likely racially gerrymandered.

    U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard found the City Council likely had used race as a predominant factor in drawing the maps in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. Black voters, she ruled, have been segregated based on race, which has ensured they won’t have a “meaningful impact on any election or a meaningful voice on any issue of concern.”

    This means the city will get a second chance at redrawing the maps, and then the plaintiffs could challenge that new map and propose their own. The city must enact its new map by Nov. 8. Plaintiffs may submit alternative proposals if they object by Nov. 18.

    The city’s lawyers will now meet with City Council in a non-public meeting to discuss whether to accept the ruling or appeal it to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
     
  2. A100

    A100 Sophomore

    79
    27
    1,833
    Oct 8, 2011
    Now do the state districts
     
    • Optimistic Optimistic x 1
  3. gator_lawyer

    gator_lawyer VIP Member

    16,833
    5,778
    3,213
    Oct 30, 2017
    Howard is very conservative. Losing before her is not a good sign for Jax. Frankly, it would be hard for any sane judge not to rule against the city. They didn't even try to hide what they were doing. They outright admitted they were going to do it during meetings, even after being warned not to do it.
     
  4. gator_lawyer

    gator_lawyer VIP Member

    16,833
    5,778
    3,213
    Oct 30, 2017
    There will be a trial on it in 2023, I believe. But I don't believe for a second that DeSantis's handpicked Florida Supreme Court majority will actually enforce the Fair District Amendments.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  5. G8tas

    G8tas GC Hall of Fame

    4,460
    902
    453
    Sep 22, 2008
    Don't worry Desantis is a great cartographer so he should have the new districts drawn soon
     
  6. g8trdoc

    g8trdoc Premium Member

    3,527
    472
    353
    Apr 3, 2007
    Remember Corrine Browns district?
     
    • Off-topic Off-topic x 1
  7. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

    8,868
    1,985
    3,013
    Apr 3, 2007
    Bottom of a pint glass
    I've had to work with the city council a few times in the last 5 years. As far as I can tell not one of them isn't a corrupt piece of shit.
     
  8. danmanne65

    danmanne65 GC Hall of Fame

    3,878
    813
    268
    Jul 2, 2022
    DeLand
    Didn’t Jacksonville basically merge with Duvall county to keep the minorities from winning elections in the city. A couple of beach communities refused to “join”. I think they didn’t want the racists or the blacks voting in things important to them.
     
  9. ncargat1

    ncargat1 VIP Member

    14,372
    6,288
    3,353
    Dec 11, 2009
    Doesn't that pretty much define the job for any city council? And, the smaller the city or town, the worse it actually gets??
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. channingcrowderhungry

    channingcrowderhungry Premium Member

    8,868
    1,985
    3,013
    Apr 3, 2007
    Bottom of a pint glass
    I was just pretty shocked how brazen it was.
     
  11. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

    29,780
    1,840
    1,968
    Apr 19, 2007
  12. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

    29,780
    1,840
    1,968
    Apr 19, 2007
    I dont know, the LA city council is imploding over leaked recordings of racist remarks. I think America is pretty racist and corrupt anywhere you go tbh.
     
    • Like Like x 1