Senator Dial testifies in federal suit challanging redistricting

Sen. Gerald Dial

State senator Gerald Dial of Lineville, who was in charge of a committee that drew Alabama's senate district lines has denied that the process was intended to create more Republican districts. Dial testified in federal court Thursday that his only goals going into the redistricting process were to prevent incumbents from facing each other, to avoid reducing the percentage of minorities in majority black districts, and to protect communities of interest. Democratic and minority lawmakers are in court challenging the districts approved by the legislature last year.   A three-judge panel that includes U.S. District Judges Myron Thompson and William Watkins and U.S. Circuit Judge William Pryor is hearing the trial, which is expected to stretch into next week.

Attorneys for the black legislators said in opening statements Thursday that redistricting packed black residents in minority districts, diluting their influence.
But Dial testified the districts were drawn according the federal and state laws after 21 public hearings were held across the state. Attorney John Tanner, representing the Democratic legislators, said the plan was ill conceived and pushed through the Republican-controlled Legislature.