Bay Area Edition | November 2023

BY JAKE MAGEE

Galveston County ocials have been ordered to redistrict Commissioners Court precinct boundaries after a judge ruled the county’s 2021 redistricting map was discriminatory against minority residents, according to the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. County ocials appealed, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Nov. 10 armed the original ruling with some caveats. On Oct. 13, the SCSJ and the Texas Civil Rights Project held a brieng on the outcome of Petteway v. Galveston County. In the case, U.S. District Court Judge Jerey Brown ruled in favor of the plaintis, who argued that when Galveston County ocials redistricted in 2021, they intentionally discriminated against the county’s Black and Latino residents, particularly in Precinct 3, in an attempt to dilute their votes. County appeals redistrict order

What they're saying

What's next

In the appeal ruling, three circuit court judges requested a poll on whether all 17 circuit court judges should rehear the case. “The district court appropriately applied precedent when it permitted the Black and Hispanic populations of Galveston County to be aggregated for purposes of assessing compliance with Section 2 [of the Voting Rights Act],” the ruling reads. “But the members of this panel agree that this court’s precedent permitting aggregation should be overturned. We therefore call for this case to be reheard.”

“For Galvestonians, this is monumental.” MARY PATRICK, PRESIDENT OF THE GALVESTON NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

“We live in such a great country, where the right to vote is fundamental. ... This win today marks the end of a long ght for our community to be represented in our government.” JOE COMPIAN, PLAINTIFF IN THE CASE

Redistricting events

October 2021: Galveston County redistricts its Commissioners Court precincts, splitting Precinct 3. Oct. 13, 2023: Southern Coalition for Social Justice announces U.S. District Court Judge Jerey Brown ruled Galveston County must redistrict by Oct. 20. Meanwhile, Galveston County ocials announce they will appeal the decision. Oct. 20, 2023: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit suspends Brown’s ruling. Nov. 10, 2023: Suspension expires. Court of appeals arms Brown’s ruling and requests a poll on whether all the justices of the court should rehear the case.

“The community is delighted. Everybody’s been real pleased. It’s just so good that all our hard work paid o.” PATRICIA TOLIVER, GALVESTON NAACP MEMBER

County commissioner precincts

“The county followed redistricting law and did not engage in any racial discrimination.” MARK HENRY, GALVESTON COUNTY JUDGE

GULF OF MEXICO

SOURCE: GALVESTON COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: SOUTHERN COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, GALVESTON COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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