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Supreme court will not order new Mississippi elections in NAACP case Supreme court will not order new Mississippi elections in NAACP case
(4 months later)
The US supreme court will not order new legislative elections in Mississippi over complaints about the timing of the state's redistricting, under one of several decisions that were handed down on Monday.The US supreme court will not order new legislative elections in Mississippi over complaints about the timing of the state's redistricting, under one of several decisions that were handed down on Monday.
The Mississippi National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had challenged the state's 2011 state elections, because the legislature did not immediately use the 2010 census to draw new district lines in 2011. The state house and senate instead argued for several weeks before ending their 2011 session, without adopting new maps. The NAACP had asked for that election to be set aside and special elections to be held under a court-ordered plan. It said that using the old maps violated the one-person, one-vote principle by diluting African-American voting strength.The Mississippi National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had challenged the state's 2011 state elections, because the legislature did not immediately use the 2010 census to draw new district lines in 2011. The state house and senate instead argued for several weeks before ending their 2011 session, without adopting new maps. The NAACP had asked for that election to be set aside and special elections to be held under a court-ordered plan. It said that using the old maps violated the one-person, one-vote principle by diluting African-American voting strength.
Courts affirmed a ruling that allowed state lawmakers to run in their old districts that year. The Supreme Court justices, without comment, upheld the lower court rulings.Courts affirmed a ruling that allowed state lawmakers to run in their old districts that year. The Supreme Court justices, without comment, upheld the lower court rulings.
Also on Monday, the court affirmed the authority of federal regulators to try to speed local government decisions on proposals to build or expand cell-phone towers. The court voted 6-3 to uphold an appeals court ruling in favor the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).Also on Monday, the court affirmed the authority of federal regulators to try to speed local government decisions on proposals to build or expand cell-phone towers. The court voted 6-3 to uphold an appeals court ruling in favor the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The case involves complaints to the FCC by telecommunications companies and the wireless industry that local authorities are delaying the placement and construction of wireless service facilities. The FCC said that local jurisdictions generally should act on applications within three months for existing structures and five months for new towers.The case involves complaints to the FCC by telecommunications companies and the wireless industry that local authorities are delaying the placement and construction of wireless service facilities. The FCC said that local jurisdictions generally should act on applications within three months for existing structures and five months for new towers.
The court also said that it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings. The justices said they would review an appeals court ruling that held that the town of Greece in suburban Rochester in upstate New York violated the constitution by opening nearly every meeting over an 11-year span with prayers that stressed Christianity.The court also said that it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings. The justices said they would review an appeals court ruling that held that the town of Greece in suburban Rochester in upstate New York violated the constitution by opening nearly every meeting over an 11-year span with prayers that stressed Christianity.
The 2nd US circuit court of appeals said the town should have made a greater effort to invite people from other faiths to open its monthly board meetings. The town says the high court already has upheld prayers at the start of legislative meetings and that private citizens offered invocations of their own choosing. The town said in court papers that the opening prayers should be found to be constitutional, "so long as the government does not act with improper motive in selecting prayer-givers."The 2nd US circuit court of appeals said the town should have made a greater effort to invite people from other faiths to open its monthly board meetings. The town says the high court already has upheld prayers at the start of legislative meetings and that private citizens offered invocations of their own choosing. The town said in court papers that the opening prayers should be found to be constitutional, "so long as the government does not act with improper motive in selecting prayer-givers."
Two town residents who are not Christian complained that they felt marginalized by the steady stream of Christian prayers and challenged the practice. They are represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State.Two town residents who are not Christian complained that they felt marginalized by the steady stream of Christian prayers and challenged the practice. They are represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
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