A panel of three federal judges has upheld Alabama's new legislative districts.
The judges split 2-to-1 in a decision Friday that said the new districts are not discriminatory and do not violate the Voting Rights Act or the Constitution.
The Legislative Black Caucus and the Alabama Democratic Conference had sued over the districts, which were designed by the Legislature's Republican majority. State Attorney General Luther Strange, who defended the new districts in court, says he's pleased the judges found the districts consistent with federal law.
ADC Chairman Joe Reed says his group likely will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. He predicts the districts will eliminate most white Democrats in the Legislature and leave black Democrats with no influence.
The districts are designed for use in the 2014 election.
