Does anyone think the Justice Department will approve these maps?
Based on the softball approach to redistricting that the DoJ has taken so far, probably so.
1) First of all, the DoJ has played hardball witness Texas. Since the other maps have complied with the VRA, there has been no basis for an objection.
2) Any serious attempt to play hardball is apt to be meet with a giant judicial bitchslap from the Supreme Court that would not only overrule the DOJ in that case, but might strike down the VRA itself. Notice how the DoJ slinked away in Kingston NC, I think it was.
