Judges Tell Louisiana Lawmakers to Draw Up New Congressional Map or Court Will Impose One

Whatever the court decides could affect the makeup of the next U.S. Congress.

A sign advertises the runoff election for Louisiana governor at a polling station at Quitman High School in Quitman, La., on Nov. 16, 2019. Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Federal judges who recently rejected Louisiana’s congressional election map that gave the state a second mostly black district have now ordered the state Legislature to pass a new map by June 3 or face the prospect that judges will simply impose one.

In an order filed on May 7 at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, three judges wrote that they would begin to put together their own version of a congressional map while giving Louisiana lawmakers a chance to come up with their own version by the deadline.