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A three-judge panel on Tuesday morning blocked Alabama from using a 2023 congressional map the panel ruled racially discriminatory and ordered the state to use a remedial map aimed at giving Black Alabamians a chance to elect their preferred leaders.

The order comes almost a month after the U.S. Supreme Court substantially weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in a case known as Louisiana v. Callais, and weeks after Gov. Kay Ivey called a special session in which Republican lawmakers set special primaries for August in the expectation that the state would be allowed to use the 2023 map, which would likely cost Democrats a seat in Alabama’s U.S. House delegation.

The panel was ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court to reevaluate its ruling on the map in light of its April ruling. But at a hearing on Friday, the panel expressed skepticism toward the state’s argument on that the 2023 map was drawn with partisan intent, not to dilute Black voters. The same three-judge panel previously found that the map was intentionally racially discriminatory and issued a “race-blind” map that led to the election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, of the 2nd Congressional District.

The state filed a notice of appeal Tuesday morning, according to court documents.

“This is a very fluid situation, and I will do my best to keep the people of Alabama apprised of our efforts,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement Tueday. “Know this — in my mind, it is not a matter of whether we win this case, only when,” he said.

SCOTUS Ruling on Voting Rights Act Puts a Third of Black Caucus Seats at Risk

Ivey said in a statement Tuesday morning that she fully supports Marshall’s appeal to the Supreme Court.

“I remain hopeful they will allow Alabama to move forward with our August 11 Special Primary Election. I will continue to say: Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” she said.

Secretary of State Wes Allen said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that he “strongly disagree(s) with the lower Court’s decision, and I look forward to........

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