A federal judge has ordered that the school board districts in Georgia's second-largest school system, Cobb County, be redrawn ahead of the 2024 elections due to alleged racial gerrymandering. U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross ruled that the current map, supported by the four Republican members of the board, is "substantially likely to be an unconstitutional racial gerrymander." The judge also forbade the school district from using this map. The Cobb County district has appealed the decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that they have been unfairly excluded from the litigation.

The district expressed concerns that if the appeals court does not act quickly, the plaintiffs' plan to replace the redistricting map with one that aligns with their own political goals will succeed. The school district called the deadline to draw a new map by January 10 "impossible," as it does not allow enough time for the legislature to address the issue. Governor Brian Kemp would need to order a special session for lawmakers to convene before January 8, and even then, normal legislative rules do not allow a bill to pass in just three days.

If the deadline is not met, Judge Ross could either draw a new map herself or accept a map proposed by the plaintiffs, a group of Cobb County residents and liberal-leaning political groups. The outcome could potentially upset the current 4-3 Republican majority on the board, as four board seats are up for election in 2024.

The Cobb County School District has been marred by political conflict in recent years, with the Republican majority often imposing its will over the objections of the three Democratic members. The Southern Poverty Law Center, representing the plaintiffs, sees the court's decision as a "resounding victory for voting rights" and believes that fair maps are necessary for an equal voice in the schools for voters of color.

However, the district accuses the plaintiffs of pursuing a Democratic takeover of the board through the lawsuit. The district claims this is a scheme to facilitate a political seizure of the board, and they argue that the court's decision takes away the legislature's opportunity to address the redistricting issues.

The lawsuit alleges that Republicans illegally packed Black and Hispanic voters into three districts in the southern part of Cobb County, thereby solidifying their hold on the remaining four districts. Judge Ross agreed with this assessment, finding that the map drew too much reliance on race. The lawsuit is unique as the school district was previously dismissed from the case, leaving only the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration as a defendant. The board, controlled by Democrats, decided to settle the lawsuit, prompting the school board to accuse the elections board of colluding with "leftist political activists" and interfering with established maps.

The school district is seeking to be included in the case once again and is appealing the recent orders, including the preliminary injunction. They argue that Judge Ross ignored their recent arguments and are requesting the appeals court to reopen discovery and give the district a fair opportunity to oppose the plaintiffs' claims. The district is also urging the appeals court to expedite their decision as Judge Ross may impose a map by January 30.

The school board has spent over $1 million defending the lawsuit, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The ongoing legal battle has brought attention to the contentious issue of redistricting and the impact it has on representation within the Cobb County School District.