Redistricting Litigation

Supreme Court Keeps Partisan Gerrymandering Challenge Alive in Wisconsin

By EditorJul 09, 2018

Wisconsin - Whitford v. Gill This case had been the one to watch because it offered the court an opportunity to expound on when partisan gerrymandering becomes egregious enough to violate the 14th amendment. In this case for the first time in history, a federal district court invalidated a statewide map as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. However, last week the Supreme Court, unceremoniously punted the case back by remanding it for the plaintiffs to properly show they have standing. The only thing the court did confirm in Whitford was that it would not consider 14th amendment based partisan gerrymandering challenges to…

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Supreme Court Decides Procedural Issue in Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Case

By EditorJul 09, 2018

Maryland (Benisek v. Lamone): This case was a procedural matter brought before the Supreme Court on the question of whether a federal district court should have denied a preliminary injunction against Maryland’s 2011 congressional map. The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s decision denying the plaintiff’s request to enjoin the use of the map for the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, noting that ruling was not an abuse of discretion. . This ruling returns the challenge back to the district court to proceed with a trial on the merits of this 1st amendment based challenge to Maryland’s sixth congressional district, a…

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Supreme Court Mostly Befuddled in Oral Argument Over Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Case

By EditorMar 29, 2018

Washington D.C. - This Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in one of the three partisan gerrymandering cases before the court this term (Benesik v. Lamone). The transcript is available here. In this novel first amendment challenge to Maryland's sixth congressional district, the court appears to remain befuddled at how to apply neutral standards when measuring just how much political gerrymandering is too much, although almost all of the justices seem to agree that Maryland's sixth district is "too much." (more…)

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A Quick History of North Carolina Redistricting Litigation Post 2010

By EditorJan 22, 2018

North Carolina - The redistricting process in North Carolina has the makings of a classic thriller. There are twists, turns, politics, intrigue, and edge of your seat courtroom drama. Not to mention the crazy quilt of maps. Here is an overview of what has happened so far in this state’s district drawing saga. (more…)

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An Update on the Partisan Gerrymander Case Everyone is Talking About

By EditorJan 16, 2018

Wisconsin - It's the case that all the legal and social science geeks have been eyeing for months now. It offers maybe the best chance for the Supreme Court to finally find a partisan gerrymander that goes too far, something it has considered over the years, but has never done. This would be a first. (more…)

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Watch: UW Professor Reviews Wisconsin Partisan Gerrymandering Case in Detail

By EditorJan 14, 2018

This challenge to Wisconsin's state legislative district map alleges the Wisconsin state assembly drew politically gerrymandered districts to entrench Republican power in 2011. Plaintiffs claim the gerrymander was so egregious, it violated the first and 14th amendments. A federal district court panel invalidated the map on those grounds in 2016. Video: UW Professor David Canon gives a detailed overview (40mins) of the case last Fall just before the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyLQBn-C8MM

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Listen: Supreme Court Oral Argument in Wisconsin Partisan Gerrymandering Case Whitford v. Gill

By EditorJan 14, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLu61vk-kns&t=102s The case is a challenge to Wisconsin's state legislative district map. It alleges the Wisconsin state assembly drew politically gerrymandered districts to entrench Republican power in 2011. Plaintiffs claim the gerrymander was so egregious, it violated the first and 14th amendments. A federal district court panel invalidated the map on those grounds in 2016.

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Everything You Wanted to Know About the Wisconsin Partisan Gerrymandering Case in One Infographic

By EditorJan 14, 2018

If you have been meaning to do a Google search and read up on the partisan gerrymandering case over Wisconsin's state legislative district map, but you don't have the 3 hours you will need to bone up on just what "partisan gerrymandering" is and why it might be illegal, here is the infographic for you. You will be up to snuff before lunch is done. Courtesy of the Brown Political Review:

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Texas Congressional Districts Invalidated by Federal Court: News Coverage

By EditorMar 16, 2017

Texas - Six years in the making, the federal district court panel released its opinion late last week in the long arduous litigation we call Texas Redistricting. This 2-1 decision is only the beginning since it is in regard to the state legislature's 2011 map, which has since been replaced. The court has yet to consider the 2013 map, which is in place currently, and the state legislative map for the lower house. What is the importance of this decision on a now defunct map? The court could require Texas to return to the preclearance regime, which was overturned in…

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Maryland Judge Orders Legislative Leaders to Testify in Partisan Gerrymandering Case

By EditorFeb 02, 2017

Maryland - Nearly four years after Bethesda, Md. resident Stephen M. Shapiro and other Maryland voters filed a partisan gerrymandering lawsuit against Maryland's congressional district map, a judge has ordered the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates and the President of the Maryland Senate to testify in the case and turn over documents, rejecting claims of legislative privilege. Shapiro's case has wound its way through the courts from its initial filing in 2013, you can read the original complaint here. A district court judge dismissed the case but Shapiro won his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled…

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