From Tribune Staff Reports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has filed an amicus brief supporting the Jefferson County Commission in its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked the use of the county’s 2021 district map. The filing comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit granted the Commission’s request for a stay on Oct. 16, allowing the county to move forward with its 2026 elections using the existing district lines.
The stay temporarily halts a September ruling by a federal district court that found the Commission’s adopted map violated the Constitution. The court had ordered the county to redraw its districts, a move that could have required major changes ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
In his brief, Marshall argued that the district court overreached by inferring improper racial motives without direct evidence. He warned that the ruling risked turning federal courts into “weapons of political warfare.” Marshall said, “The U.S. Supreme Court has been clear that courts must presume that a legislative body acts in good faith. The district court ignored that rule and created a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Marshall’s position was joined by attorneys general from Georgia and Florida, who also submitted their names in support of the appeal.
The Eleventh Circuit’s stay means the Commission does not have to enact a new district map while the legal battle continues. The court cited concerns related to the Purcell principle, which discourages courts from making changes to election rules close to an election because of the potential for voter confusion and administrative disruption.
Jefferson County officials have maintained that the 2021 map was legally and properly adopted. With the stay in place, county leaders will now prepare for the 2026 elections under the existing district boundaries unless the appellate court rules otherwise.
The appeal remains pending, and no date has been set for oral arguments.
