Eleventh Circuit
The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, covering Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
On 25 August, the Eleventh Circuit vacated a ruling against Georgia’s electoral maps and returned the case for reconsideration, leaving the state’s existing plans in force.
Last refreshed: 24 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did the Eleventh Circuit send Georgia's maps back to a lower court?
Timeline for Eleventh Circuit
Mentioned in: YouGov puts Ossoff 10 points clear
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: One justice ends Missouri's map appeal
US Midterms 2026Vacated the district court judgment and remanded for reconsideration under Callais
US Midterms 2026: Georgia keeps its maps after remandBackground
The Eleventh Circuit is the federal appeals court for Alabama, Florida and Georgia. It reviews decisions from federal district courts in those states, including disputes over elections, civil rights, criminal law and federal regulation.
Based in Atlanta, the Court sits between trial courts and the US Supreme Court. Its published decisions bind federal courts within its three-state circuit unless the Supreme Court changes the law.
Its August 2026 remand in Georgia’s map litigation illustrates how an appellate court can alter the immediate legal position without deciding the final validity of a challenged plan.
Eleventh Circuit resets Georgia map case
On 25 August, the Eleventh Circuit vacated a federal district court judgment against Georgia’s congressional and legislative maps. It returned three consolidated appeals to the lower court for reconsideration under Louisiana v. Callais, rather than selecting a replacement plan.
For the Atlanta-based appeals court, the order showed its role as the forum reviewing election-law rulings from Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The remand removed the judgment then blocking Georgia’s existing maps, while leaving the merits for further lower-court consideration.
What is the Eleventh Circuit?
What did the Eleventh Circuit rule on Georgia's maps?
Does Georgia have to redraw its maps now?
