Category Archives: redistricting

Ned Foley on Why Oral Argument Might Matter in WI Partisan Gerrymandering Case, and Some Questions

September 29, 2017, 10:35 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ned: It is often said that oral arguments rarely make a difference to the outcome of a Supreme Court case, that the Justices’ minds are essentially made up before oral argument begins. But Gill v. Whitford, the blockbuster partisan gerrymandering… Continue reading

“Deep-pocketed Republican group ready to battle Obama and Holder over redistricting control”

September 28, 2017, 3:04 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Washington Examiner: A new Republican group launching Thursday has budgeted $35 million to strengthen the party’s influence over the next round of redistricting, the complicated process of drawing favorable political boundaries for state and federal legislative districts. The National Republican… Continue reading

Will Justice Kennedy Rein in Partisan Gerrymandering in Gill v. Whitford, Argued at SCOTUS Oct. 3?

September 28, 2017, 11:48 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have spoken to many reporters and others asking me what I think is going to happen in Gill v. Whitford, the partisan gerrymandering case out of Wisconsin being argued at the Supreme Court on October 3. In particular, they… Continue reading

NC Supreme Court Remands State Racial Gerrymandering Case to Trial Court [corrected]

September 28, 2017, 10:57 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Order in Dickson v. Rucho.

Supreme Court Allows Texas To Drag Out Redistricting Appeal, Enjoying Benefit of Temporary Stay

September 26, 2017, 8:04 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Michael Li: In one-line orders today (here and here), the Supreme Court rejected a request by plaintiffs in the Texas redistricting case that the Supreme Court expedite appeals by the State of Texas. The plaintiffs’ requests would have… Continue reading

“The Case Against Partisan Gerrymandering”

September 25, 2017, 10:27 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Nick Stephanopoulos for Slate: The underlying debate in Whitford, then, has a clear winner and a clear implication. Far from being tangential, party is currently the most important driver of voter and legislator behavior. This fact causes today’s gerrymandering to… Continue reading

“Supreme Court case offers window into how representatives choose their constituents”

September 23, 2017, 12:41 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bob Barnes deep dive on how the Wisconsin gerrrymander came to be.

Three Judge Court Severely Criticizes NC for Racial Gerrymander, and Explains Earlier Decision Not to Order Special Election

September 19, 2017, 8:30 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Back in July, after the Supreme Court stopped a special election for legislative districts in North Carolina after a finding of a racial gerrymander, and ordered a three-judge court to reconsider the issue, the three-judge court on remand decided… Continue reading

“Time to Protect Our Democracy; Anthony Kennedy should follow Byron White’s guidance and strike down partisan gerrymandering.”

September 19, 2017, 8:09 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Palma Joy Strand, who worked with Justice White as a clerk on Davis v. Bandemer, has written this piece for Slate.

Wisconsin Files Its SCOTUS Reply Brief in Partisan Gerrymandering Case

September 19, 2017, 3:19 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Read it here.

“Has the Top Two Primary Elected More Moderates?”

September 19, 2017, 12:03 pmpolitical parties, political polarization, primaries, redistrictingRick Hasen

Eric McGhee and Bors Shor in Perspectives on Politics: Party polarization is perhaps the most significant political trend of the past several decades of American politics. Many observers have pinned hopes on institutional reforms to reinvigorate the political center. The… Continue reading

I Talked SCOTUS, Gerrymandering, Voting Rights, and Pence-Kobach with Dahlia Lithwick on Slate’s Amicus

September 16, 2017, 12:13 pmredistricting, Supreme Court, The Voting Wars, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Great to join Dahlia on the first new podcast of the term. Listen.

Lyle Denniston on SCOTUS Decision Not to Rush Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Case

September 14, 2017, 12:43 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Lyle: The Maryland case has some of its own vulnerabilities, and those might have played some role in the Supreme Court’s decision to sidetrack it for the time being. The Benisek case has yet to go to a trial, reaching… Continue reading

Supreme Court Won’t Hurry Consideration of Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Case

September 13, 2017, 2:42 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Kimberly Robinson with the order. I linked to the jurisdictional statement here. I expect this means that the Maryland case, like the North Carolina partisan gerrymandering case, will be held for resolution of Gill v. Whitford, and then sent back… Continue reading

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