Mississippi Supreme Court Justice David Ishee was unable to qualify for reelection this year because of a federal court order preventing the state from using the existing Mississippi Supreme Court district map in future elections.
Liz Jonson, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Michael Watson, told Mississippi Today in a statement that Ishee was unable to qualify because U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock issued an August 2025 order that found the state Supreme Court districts violate the federal Voting Rights Act.
Aycock’s order, which stems from a federal lawsuit where plaintiffs argued that the state’s current Supreme Court districts illegally dilute Black voting strength, enjoined the state from using the existing map in future elections.
But the federal ruling does not mean Ishee, who is elected from south Mississippi, would have to vacate his seat soon. His term doesn’t expire until January 2028, which should give Mississippi lawmakers and the federal court time to adopt a new map. Ishee is the only high court justice up for reelection this year.
Ishee told Mississippi Today that whenever the Legislature adopts a new map, he intends to run for reelection.
“I’m definitely running as soon as I get the opportunity,” Ishee said.
Mississippi Supreme Court Justice David Ishee listens as attorneys present arguments over a state law that would have put $10 million of federal pandemic relief money into infrastructure grants for private schools, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Jackson, Miss. Credit: AP Photo/Rogelio V. SolisCurrent state law establishes three distinct Supreme Court districts, commonly referred to as the Northern, Central and Southern districts. Voters elect three judges from each of these districts to make up the nine-member court.
The Central District, which includes much of the majority-Black Delta and Jackson metro areas, was a central focus of the federal litigation. Aycock ruled that the plaintiffs showed their configuration weakens Black voting strength.
State officials have appealed Aycock’s ruling to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, but they did not ask Aycock to pause lower-court proceedings while the appeal plays out.
The 5th Circuit, however, did pause its appellate proceedings until the U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision in the Louisiana v. Callais decision, a case that could upend the Voting Rights Act and redistricting across the country.
Until the appellate courts rule differently, Aycock’s order barring the state from using the current map remains in effect. Because of that injunction, the secretary of state’s office has concluded that no candidate, including Ishee, may qualify for a seat under the now-unenforceable district boundaries.
Aycock allowed the Legislature to redraw the districts during its 2026 session, which is currently ongoing. Legislative leaders have advanced placeholder measures to meet legislative deadlines while the Legislature continues negotiations. Lawmakers have not unveiled a new map for the districts.
Leaders in both chambers have stated that they intend to comply with the federal court’s order, but they have also signaled that they are closely monitoring developments at the U.S. Supreme Court with the Louisiana case.
Senate Judiciary A Chairman Brice Wiggins, a Republican from Pascagoula who is the lead Senate negotiator on redrawing the court districts, said that he and other lawmakers are moving towards having a new map by the end of the legislative session.
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