By
Associated Press
.
Published: Tue, November 20, 2007 - 4:22 pm
Last Updated: Tue, November 20, 2007 - 4:25 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court agreed today to review avoting rights dispute from Alabama in which the governor filled a
county commission vacancy by appointing a Republican to represent a
heavily Democratic district.
A federal court removed the Republican from his seat on the
Mobile County commission and a Democrat won a special election.
Governor Bob Riley appointed Juan Chastang
, a Republican, to the commission in November 2005. Democrats challenged the move because the Justice Department had not given its required approval underthe federal Voting Rights Act.
The district is predominantly black, and Chastang, who is black, lost to a black Democrat, Merceria Ludgood
.Alabama is one of several states that have to obtain Justice
Department pre-clearance before changing voting laws in order to
make sure black residents don't lose any clout in the electorate
because of the change.
The case is Riley versus Kennedy, 07-77.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Outgoing Mobile Commissioner Gets Back Pay
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