LOUISVILLE — African-American representation in the merged governments of Louisville and Jefferson County may not be as diminished as the professor drawing the district lines suggested three weeks ago.

        But it may not be enough to halt a federal investigation of possible violations of the Voting Rights Act involving the dilution of minority representation.

        University of Louisville professor Bill Dakan now says he is “pretty confident” he can draw four districts, and possibly five, with Afri can-American majorities — not the three districts he suggested March 22. Mr. Dakan said he's had more time to study census data from which the districts will be drawn. News this week of the federal investigation had nothing to do with it, he said.

        “I'm going to do everything I can to maximize the number,” he said.

        But even five black majority districts in the new 26-district government would almost certainly reduce the influence African-Americans have in local government at

        present, where they hold one-third of the 12 seats on the city Board of Aldermen and one of four on county Fiscal Court.

        Louisville's population is 33 percent African-American, compared with 18.9 percent of the whole county. African-Americans would make up less than 12 percent of the new council if they were to hold three of the 26 seats. Five seats would give them 19.2 percent.

        The Justice Department said last week that it is investigating whether the merger violates the Voting Rights Act, which in part bans “election-related practices and procedures that are intended to be racially discriminatory.”

        It's that language that has some scholars and others suggesting that the federal government could demand remedies that include the creation of more than 26 districts or the postponing of plans for merger, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2003.

        “It's a complicated issue,” said Pamela S. Karlan, a Stanford University law school professor who specializes in voting-rights cases.

        City and county voters, who approved merger Nov. 7, are scheduled to elect a metro mayor and council next year.

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