Judge Blocks DeSantis Maps
Local News Staff 
In a blow to Governor Ron DeSantis' redistricting agenda, a circuit judge Wednesday granted a temporary injunction because of changes to a North Florida congressional district made in an allegedly discriminatory manner. Leon County Circuit Judge Layne Smith said the congressional map did not follow guidelines set up in the "Fair Districts" amendment to the Florida Constitution.
The secretary of state’s office is anticipated to appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeal. John Devaney, an attorney for Black Lives Matter and the League of Women Voters, argued against DeSantis' map: “We believe there are violations of the Florida Constitution in multiple parts of this redistricting map, but we decided to bring this narrow claim, focus on CD 5 and the districts that are affected by the dismantling of CD 5, in part to ensure that we could have a remedy for the 370,000 people (of the district).”
DeSantis has claimed that carving out a district specifically for black voters is itself discriminatory.
This story may be updated as new information becomes available.
