Mississippi Supreme Court Faces Special Elections After Voting Rights Act Ruling
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A federal judge has ordered special elections for the Mississippi Supreme Court, finding that the state’s current electoral map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the power of Black voters.
JACKSON, Miss. — A landmark ruling issued on Friday, July 6, 2023, mandates special elections for the Mississippi Supreme Court after U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock determined the state’s existing electoral map—in place since 1987—is in violation of the Voting Rights Act. The judge has given the Mississippi Legislature until the conclusion of its 2026 regular session to redraw the map.
Dilution of Black Voters’ Power
Judge Aycock initially ordered Mississippi to redraw the map in August, concluding that the current configuration systematically diminishes the voting strength of Black residents. The Friday ruling sets the stage for a potential overhaul of the state’s judicial election system. The judge stated she will expedite the process to hold the special elections in November 2026, once the legislature approves a new map. She also indicated that a decision on which seats will be subject to a special election will be deferred until the new map is adopted.
ACLU Lawsuit Highlights Disparities
The order stems from a 2022 lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued that the current map unfairly divides Mississippi’s Delta region—a historically Black area—effectively halving its influence in the Central District. According to the ACLU, this division significantly reduces the Black vote’s impact on the court’s composition.
“Mississippi is nearly 40% Black, but has never had more than one Black Justice on the nine-member Court,” stated Ari Savitzky, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project. “We couldn’t be happier to see justice on the horizon.” Judge Aycock’s August ruling further underscored this disparity, noting that only four Black individuals have ever served on the Mississippi Supreme Court, and all were initially appointed to the same seat in the Central District by a sitting governor.
Legal Challenges and Pending Appeals
The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office is currently appealing Judge Aycock’s August ruling. Proceedings in the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have been stayed, pending the outcome of a related case before the U.S. Supreme Court concerning Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act—the primary legal avenue for challenging racially discriminatory election practices.
The offices of the Mississippi Secretary of State and Attorney General did not respond to requests for comment.
Judicial Vacancies and Appointments
In December, two Mississippi Supreme Court justices were appointed to federal judgeships. Governor Tate Reeves will appoint replacements to serve until the newly elected justices take office. It is important to note that Supreme Court elections in Mississippi are nonpartisan.
The coming years will be critical as Mississippi navigates the redrawing of its Supreme Court map and the potential for a more representative judiciary. The outcome of this process will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the state’s legal landscape and the pursuit of equal justice under the law.