In a meeting on Monday night, the DeSoto Parish Police Jury in Mansfield, La., voted to amend its budget and allocate $46,000 to hire a court‑appointed demographer to redraw the parish’s election districts. The payment follows a settlement order from U.S. District Judge Jerry Edwards Jr., who appointed Thomas A. Bryan of Montpelier, Va., as the special master to develop new district lines.
Jurors voice concerns over taxpayer costs
Police Juror Jeri Burrell questioned why parish taxpayers should bear costs tied to litigation the Jury did not initiate. Burrell mistakenly claimed the payment covered the lawsuit itself, stating, “We didn’t file a lawsuit and the taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill.” Juror Ernel Jones echoed the sentiment, warning that the payment could encourage future lawsuits against government agencies in hopes of recouping attorney fees.
Juror Stacey Justice clarified that the $46,000 is strictly for the demographer’s services and not related to any attorney fees. “This is the agreement that we made for the federal judge to appoint a demographer. This is for the demographer services,” Justice said.
Judicial background and settlement
Judge Edwards last month ruled that the Police Jury’s existing election district lines violated the law, ordering the parish to cease using them. He then set a timeline for selecting a demographer, hand‑picking one of three candidates, and required a new map be approved before the end of the year.
The redistricting case stems from a lawsuit filed three years ago by a small group of DeSoto Parish voters who alleged the Jury’s 2020‑Census district lines were drawn with race as the predominant factor, constituting a racial gerrymander. After the U.S. Supreme Court decided a similar Louisiana congressional redistricting case, the plaintiffs and the Police Jury reached a settlement two months ago.
Timeline for new maps
Demographer Thomas A. Bryan is scheduled to submit a proposed map by September 15, with a public comment period running through September 30. His final plan and accompanying report are due October 15, and responses to the final plan must be filed by October 30. Judge Edwards expects to issue an order adopting Bryan’s recommendations, or a modified version, by December 15.
Attorney‑fee claims pending
Separate from the demographer’s fee, the plaintiffs have filed a motion seeking $639,482 in attorney fees and expenses. The motion breaks down the costs as $589,703 in attorney fees—$546,863 from Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PPLCC and $52,840 from Wiener, Weiss & Madison APC—plus $49,778 in non‑taxable expenses incurred by Holtzman Vogel.
The motion was filed the same day the Police Jury voted on the demographer’s fee, and a notice indicates the fee issue will be referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Hornsby for a written ruling. Opponents have 14 days to respond.
Parish’s legal spending
To date, the Police Jury has already spent more than $340,000 on its own legal defense. The judge’s consent order reserves any decision on the plaintiffs’ attorney‑fee claims for future proceedings.
The redistricting process highlights the ongoing tension between local governance and federal oversight, emphasizing the importance of adhering to constitutional principles of equal representation while managing taxpayer resources responsibly.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
