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Federal court chooses new Alabama congressional districts map after gerrymandering challenge

JURIST

A three-judge panel in Alabama chose a new congressional district map on Thursday in response to a lawsuit arguing that the Alabama legislature’s congressional map was racially gerrymandered. After this, the special master provided three remedial plans to replace the original, gerrymandered plan the court enjoined.

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Alabama executes Kenneth Smith by nitrogen gas after US Supreme Court rejects final appeal

JURIST

Alabama inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed Thursday night by nitrogen hypoxia after the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision , declined to intervene in the state’s second attempt to execute an inmate who had previously survived a botched lethal injection.

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US Supreme Court and federal appeals court refuse to stay Alabama nitrogen hypoxia execution

JURIST

The US Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on Wednesday refused Kenneth Smith’s application for a stay of his execution by nitrogen hypoxia. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. The Alabama ACLU said that the Alabama Department of Corrections is not subject to regulation or oversight.

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Alabama governor signs bill aimed at protecting IVF following state supreme court ruling that embryos are children

JURIST

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill into law Wednesday night shielding in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers from legal liability, moments after it was passed by the legislature. The legislative effort to protect IVF providers from litigation followed criticism resulting from the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling.

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US court revives and remands Alabama burial ground dispute in Muscogee Nation case

JURIST

The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on Friday vacated a previous ruling that dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Oklahoma-based Muscogee (Creek) Nation, who challenged the construction of a casino in Alabama on land they claim is sacred. US Circuit Court Judge William Pryor Jr.,

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Alabama elections map appealed to the US Supreme Court over claims of ‘racial gerrymandering’

JURIST

A federal district court on Monday denied the Alabama Secretary of State’s emergency motion to allow Alabama to hold elections with congressional maps which have been called “racially gerrymandered.” In denying the emergency motion, the three judge panel found “there is no emergency.”

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US federal judge allows Alabama to execute prisoner by nitrogen gas

JURIST

A federal judge in Alabama ruled on Wednesday that the state can proceed to use nitrogen gas in the execution of Kenneth Smith. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall then filed a motion to administer death by means of nitrogen hypoxia. In the Middle District of Alabama, however, Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr.

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