ACLU of MS Statement on Ruling on DeSoto County’s Supervisor Districts

Today, the Court handed down a disappointing decision in Harris v. DeSoto County, a lawsuit challenging a racially discriminatory electoral map in DeSoto County, Mississippi. The ACLU of Mississippi has issued the following statement:

"The Court’s decision that there isn’t enough evidence to prove DeSoto County’s Board of Supervisors intentionally diluted Black voting strength follows the Supreme Court’s Callais opinion from April.

While not surprising, the ruling is still deeply disappointing.

Callais changed the standard on how cases brought under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act are judged. But it did not change the reality that some politicians still use the redistricting process to limit the voting power of African Americans.

DeSoto County supervisors drew supervisor districts that resulted in Black voters, in the state’s fastest growing county, having little opportunity to choose county elected officials of their choice.

This case was about 5 county supervisor districts, but those districts are used to elect a total of 25 county officials.

All 25 are White. DeSoto County is over 30% Black.

The County chose maps that resulted in Black voters having no voice in who governs their community.

The Court appears to base today’s decision on a lack of evidence that DeSoto officials “intentionally” diluted Black voting strength. However, Congress, clearly, wanted Section 2 cases judged on the results of apportionment and rejected the need for Black plaintiffs to prove a legislative body “intentionally” drew districts to harm Black voters.

The Callais opinion pretends to adhere to the text of the Voting Rights Act and only updates the test for proving vote dilution. In reality, the Supreme Court is directing federal courts to close their eyes and ignore the clear results of discriminatory maps.

While today’s decision is proof of the harm Callais can cause, it does not stop our fight to strengthen Black voting power and oppose a return to Jim Crow maps."

To view this press release online, click here.