MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER

By Brian Lyman

A federal court ruled that 12 of Alabama's legislative districts were unconstitutional, citing an improper use of race in their composition.

The three-judge panel enjoined the use of the districts in future elections but stopped short of intervening in the drawing of new districts.

"It is this court’s expectation that the state legislature will adopt a remedy in a timely and effective manner, correcting the constitutional deficiencies in its plans in sufficient time for conducting the 2018 primary and general elections, without the need for court intervention," the judges wrote in a separate order.

The decision ends a chapter in a nearly five-year battle over the district lines – which has gone to the U.S. Supreme Court – and adds another item to a lengthy punch list awaiting state lawmakers next month.

Continue reading the story on the Montgomery Advertiser website.