Jefferson Remap Might be Delayed

The Times-Picayune reports that plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against Jefferson Parish Council's five-district remap plan have asked District Judge Carl Barbier to postpone the trial until 2004. Most Jefferson Parish officials acknowledge that there is little or no chance of addressing the legal cloud before elections this fall.

The issue before Barbier is the overall idea of a five-district council with two at-large seats, replacing the 6-1 setup in place since 1991, and whether it dilutes the political clout of racial minorities in violation of the Voting Rights Act. In addition, the U.S. Justice Department has jurisdiction over the specific boundaries of the five-district map the council created after voters approved the concept last year.

Posted by AJR at May 15, 2003 07:20 AM