A Florida appellate court has upheld Gov. Ron DeSantis’ congressional redistricting map, finding a lower state court should have dismissed a lawsuit challenging North Florida’s districts.

The 1st District Court of Appeal found that decisions made by the Florida Supreme Court last decade, when it ordered the creation of a Jacksonville-to-Tallahassee congressional district that allowed Black voters to elect their preferred candidates, should not be considered binding precedent.

Because the court “did not review a lower court’s interpretation or application of the law … the court’s pronouncements in that capacity … should not operate as holdings of a superior appellate court.”

The decision was eight to two in favor of upholding DeSantis’ map and striking down the lower court decision. Three judges recused. The plaintiffs could appeal the case to the Florida Supreme Court.