Three-judge panel rejects Alabama's remedial map and appoints a special master

A three-judge federal panel unanimously rejected Alabama's July 2023 remedial congressional map, finding it failed to create the second Black opportunity district required by the Supreme Court and was drawn with discriminatory intent. The judges described the legislature's conduct as a "calculated, purposeful decision" to refuse the required remedy and found that the map distributed Black voters to dilute their votes at least in part because of race. The panel appointed a special master to draw a replacement map with the required second Black opportunity district.