Judge denies restraining order on Missouri congressional map in NAACP lawsuit
Lucas Geisler
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) –
A Cole County judge denied the Missouri NAACP’s request to put an early hold on the state’s new congressional map.
Judge Chris Limbaugh’s two-paragraph order on Friday rejected the group’s ask for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. The NAACP, along with three Missourians, wanted a judge to halt the state’s new congressional district map from taking effect.
The new map would likely make the Fifth Congressional District, held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City), a seat more favorable to Republicans by stretching it from the Kansas City area east to Jefferson City.
NAACP v Kehoe decisionDownload
The NAACP claimed Gov. Mike Kehoe’s call for a special session in August was unconstitutional because the Missouri Constitution only allows congressional redistricting to happen after the census. The group wanted an early injunction stopping the map from taking effect.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office argued that the request was irrelevant because lawmakers had already passed and the governor signed the map into law.
The case is set for a status update on Tuesday in Jefferson City. Sharon Jones, an attorney for the NAACP, declined to comment to ABC 17 News until the hearing.