MD ACLU back in Federal court over Federalsburg voting dispute

MARYLAND –  The ACLU of Maryland was back in court Wednesday over federalsburg’s elections system.

Just months ago, the town’s at-large system was changed to a district system, allowing the town’s two first-ever black leaders to be elected. The latest filing by the group is asking for summary judgment, affirming the damage to racial justice caused by the previous at-large voting system.

The ruling would create a precedent and allow for similar at-large systems to be challenged in Maryland, it would also highlight the Caucus of African American Leaders and the NAACP’s push to end that voting system.

“Having a federal court and a federal judge find that what the plaintiffs were seeking to change was in fact an unlawful system, having that statement from a federal court is extremely important just for accountability and justice for the people who brought this case,” said ACLU Staff Attorney Nick Steiner.

The judge allowed the request for summary judgment to go forward but did not issue a ruling, which is expected later this year.