Redistricting Commissions

SCOTUSNow Predicts Winner / Losers in Arizona Redistricting Case by Question Count

By EditorMar 24, 2015

One Chicago-Kent College of Law blog likes to predict winners and losers in major supreme court cases by counting the questions during oral argument. According to the blog author's own statistics, his method is 63% accurate recently - but he says Arizona Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is nearly a toss up when it comes to the comparative question count. He gives the legislature the upper hand in the end. Read the blog article for his detailed methodology and the actual question counts of the judges.

Redistricting CommissionsArizona, oral argument, scotus

Arizona Supreme Court Case Could Threaten Redistricting Commissions in these 6 States

By EditorMar 10, 2015

Last week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. The case centers around whether voters by initiative, can transfer the authority to redraw state and congressional boundaries from the state legislature to an independent commission, something Arizona has been doing since 2000. This Brennan Center report lists those states with commissions that could be in jeopardy should the Supreme Court side with the Arizona legislature in this case. Read the report here.

Elections Clause, FEATURES, POLICY and PRACTICE, Redistricting CommissionsBrennan Center, States

Listen to Supreme Court Oral Argument in the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission Case

By EditorMar 09, 2015

Last week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. The case revolves around the Republican-led legislatures' challenge to a state constitutional amendment that voters passed by initiative in 2000 giving a bipartisan commission control over redrawing Arizona's state and congressional district boundaries. While there are some initial issues of standing, the substantive question in this case will be whether the U.S. Constitution's Elections Clause prevents a state from transferring redistricting authority to an entity other than the legislature. So far, there have been several early impressions of the oral argument published, many…

Elections Clause, Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting LitigationArizona, Independent Redistricting Commission, lawid, oral argument, state legislature

Previewing Supreme Court Oral Argument in Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission v. Arizona

By EditorFeb 26, 2015

Michael Morley ( assistant professor of law at the Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law at Barry University) and Nick Stephanopoulos (assistant professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School) join Jeffrey Rosen of the National Constitutional Center to discuss the upcoming Supreme Court oral arguments in Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission v. Arizona scheduled for March 2nd. Listen to the podcast here. http://www.podbean.com/media/player/tu8c9-54130f/initByJs/1/auto/1

Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsArizona, Independent Redistriicting Commission

Santa Fe Looking for a Few Good Geographers

By EditorJan 19, 2015

The City of Santa Fe, New Mexico is looking for citizens to fill the seven spots on its Citizens' Redistricting Commission. The body will be in charge of redrawing Santa Fe's city council districts. The city is looking for a geographer or cartographer to sit on the commission to help with the challenge of redrawing political boundaries after a recent annexation. Read local coverage here.

Redistricting Commissions, Strategy and PoliticsNew Mexico, Santa Fe

Redistricting Reform Moves Through Ohio Legislature

By EditorJan 07, 2015

Republicans have controlled state redistricting in Ohio for the past three decades through control of Ohio Apportionment Board. They are ceding a good deal of that power over redistricting by passing a reform bill last month that would give the minority substantial say over the final map. The bill " . . . would add two members, one from each party. And if the minority-party members did not approve of the district maps, the changes would last only four years, not the traditional 10" By shortening the lifespan of a "contested" redistricting map, the legislation gives incentive to the party in…

Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting LitigationOhio

Judge Upholds Alaska Redistricting Board’s Legislative Map

By EditorNov 18, 2013

Fairbanks - A judge on Monday tossed out two challenges to the Alaska Redistricting Board's latest legislative map, ruling that the 2014 election can go ahead with its 60 new House and Senate districts. Read more.

Redistricting CommissionsAlaska

Alaska Redistricting Doesn’t Pass the “Smell Check”

By EditorJun 03, 2013

John Aronno of the Alaska Commons, writes this article in the Huffington Post detailing Alaska's sad experience with post 2010 redistricting saying the process didn't pass the "smell check." read more.

Redistricting CommissionsAlaska

Smoking Gun in Arizona Redistricting Commission Lawsuit?

By EditorMar 19, 2013

On the eve of a March 25th trial, Republican and Tea Party activists suing the Independent Arizona Redistricting Commission over alleged prohibited partisan considerations in redrawing the state’s legislative map claim to have found damning evidence to prove their case. They have won a last minute request to interview the Democratic party’s interim director after hearing from one Democratic commissioner during a deposition that she “may” have directed the commission’s mapping official to make changes given to her by the party official. Arizona Daily Sun

Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting LitigationArizona