Judge tosses First Amendment claim in racial discrimination suit over Tarrant County precinct maps

A federal judge dismissed a group of Tarrant County residents’ claim that the county's new precinct map disenfranchises them and denied the group’s request to temporarily prevent the county from implementing the new map.

The group's other constitutional claims — which also allege racial discrimination against Black and Latino voters — will still proceed.

In a lawsuit over Tarrant County’s rare mid-decade redistricting effort, voters who would be affected by the new map allege the map disenfranchises them under the First Amendment. But U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, based in Fort Worth, ruled Friday he has no authority to decide that issue.

It’s a political question of partisan gerrymandering, O’Connor wrote, agreeing with the county’s argument in its motion to dismiss last mon