11th Circuit orders new review of Georgia voting maps

A federal appeals court has ordered a new review of Georgia's 2021 congressional and legislative maps, vacating a lower court ruling that found the districts illegally weakened Black voting power. The decision, issued by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on August 25, 2026, sends the case back to a federal district court for reconsideration in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that significantly altered the legal standards for voting rights challenges.

The appeals court's ruling stems from the Supreme Court's April 2026 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which changed the framework for evaluating redistricting cases under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court held that Section 2 liability now requires a "strong inference of intentional discrimination," making it more difficult for plaintiffs to challenge maps based on racial vote dilution. The 11th Circuit panel, consisting of Judges Robin Rosenbaum, Barbara Lagoa, and Charles Wilson, stated that this "significant change of law" necessitated a fresh look at the Georgia cases.

The legal battle began after Republican-controlled state lawmakers approved new districts following...