WASHINGTON (CN) - The fallout from the justices' landmark decision striking down Louisiana's congressional map came rushing back to the Supreme Court on Thursday as state officials sought to draw new district lines ahead of 2026 elections. 

Primary elections for the state's six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were scheduled for May 16 until the justices determined Wednesday the map unlawfully discriminated by race when it created a second majority-Black congressional district. In response to the ruling, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued an executive order Thursday suspending the state's primary elections.

A group of "non-African American voters" also asked the justices to rush the release of their certified judgment, which typically isn't issued to the lower court for around 32 days. But Black voters who defended the contested map urged the high court not to interfere with an ongoing election, noting absentee ballots were already sent out and early voting was scheduled to begin Saturday. 

"Enjoining the primary after ballots have already been cast would cause chaos in the election process and leave voters and candidates hopelessly confused," the Black voters wrote. 

Black voters and civil rights groups sued Louisiana over the state's 2022 voting maps, which included only one majority-Black district despite Black voters making up 30% of the voting-age population in the state. The justices allowed the map with a single majority-Black district to be used in the 2022 midterm elections, citing the precedent barring federal court interference too close to an election known as Purcell v. Gonzalez. 

After a protracted legal battle and federal court ruling, the Legislature drew new maps in 2024 with a second majority-Black district. In response, a group of "non-African American voters" sued the state claiming the new maps are unconstitutional. Under Purcell, the justices again paused additional changes to the state's maps for the 2024 presidential election; however, they kept in place the newly drawn map with the second majority-Black district.

The Supreme Court then held two oral argument sessions in 2025 over whether adding the second majority-Black district in accordance with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. Wednesday's 6-3 ruling held that it was. 

Black voters said the justices should follow the same pattern as prior rulings, using the maps that the court ruled an unconstitutional gerrymander in the 2026 elections. 

Louisiana's secretary of state claimed the court's 2024 stay order during the presidential election terminated automatically on judgment of the appeal. Therefore, the justices' Wednesday ruling, the secretary said, was enough for the state to begin redrawing maps for the 2026 election.

"[State officials] do not view their ability to do so as contingent upon when this court transmits its opinion and judgment," Louisiana wrote. "Nor do they see any injunctive role for the district court upon the state's adoption of a new map and process." 

The justices could issue a decision on the emergency appeal to release the certified judgment at any time. 

Source: Courthouse News Service