A court-appointed special master team billed $240,326 in fees last week for their work in a State Senate redistricting lawsuit against the State of Alabama.
According to a filing last week, the members of the special master team billed at hourly rates ranging from $400 to $1,404.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall appealed the new State Senate redistricting map that U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco ordered the State to use for the 2026 election in November.
Alabama taxpayers will pay the special master fees unless Manasco's ruling is reversed on appeal.
Earlier this year, Manasco ordered Alabama lawmakers to redraw a new State Senate redistricting map for the 2026 election. Despite the court order, Gov. Kay Ivey opted not to call a special session of the legislature to consider a new map.
Manasco's order concurred with the left-wing plaintiffs suing the State, who claimed that State Senate Districts 25 and 26 held by State Sens. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) and Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
After Ivey decided against a special session, Manasco ordered a special master to redraw Alabama's State Senate map for the 2026 election.
Manasco selected the map dubbed "Remedial Plan 3" from the special master report. The map was submitted by an 18-year-old undergraduate student at the University of Alabama.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
