Jacksonville redistricting case comes to a close. Federal judge approves settlement

Hanna Holthaus, Florida Times-Union
Updated ·2 min read
The "P3" map developed by plaintiffs and ordered by the court will stay in place for the remainder of the decade until lines are re-drawn after the next census. The map differs from the city's proposed map in the boundaries for Districts 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14.
The "P3" map developed by plaintiffs and ordered by the court will stay in place for the remainder of the decade until lines are re-drawn after the next census. The map differs from the city's proposed map in the boundaries for Districts 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14.

The redistricting case against the city has been settled over a year after a group of civil rights groups successfully sued the city for racially gerrymandering its district map.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard approved a settlement on Tuesday afternoon that City Council accepted last month. Under it, the city will pay $100,000 in plaintiff attorney fees, on top of its own fees to outside counsel.

The city will additionally use a court-ordered, plaintiff-drawn map for all future elections until redistricting happens again after the next census, “affecting the rights of Jacksonville voters for years to come,” Howard wrote in the ruling.

“Upon careful consideration, and for all the reasons stated in the court’s prior orders, the undersigned is fully convinced that the settlement is fair, reasonable, and lawful, both as to the parties involved and as to the broader citizenry impacted by its terms,” Howard said.

City Council approves settlement: Jacksonville City Council approves redistricting settlement 15-3

How much the appeals cost taxpayers: Jacksonville continues settlement negotiations in redistricting case, appeals costs rise

More: Gerrymandered Jacksonville City Council maps will be redrawn this week | What you need to know

School Board districts are also affected – one is composed of two City Council districts – and both sides have suggested that the plaintiffs may file a request that Howard order new elections for the seats affected. They have until June 29 to request a special election for school board district seats held by Darryl Willie and Charlotte Joyce.

The Jacksonville branch of the NAACP, Florida Rising Together, the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, the ACLU of Florida Northeast Chapter and 10 Jacksonville residents successfully sued the city in May 2022 – leading to a year of legal battles and thousands of dollars spent.

Howard ruled that by packing Black voters into districts 7, 8, 9 and 10, the city had reduced their influence in neighboring districts for decades. The city appealed the decision but also worked to approve a new map. The new map and the request to stay Howard’s ruling were both rejected.

Howard instead chose one of three plaintiff maps. The city asked an appeals court to stay the decision ahead of the local March election – in which the new map would be used – but the appeals court rejected it.

Jacksonville voters elected new City Council members under the new lines in March and May, and all parties agreed to the settlement.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Federal judge approves Jacksonville redistricting case settlement