Category Archives: redistricting

“The New Front in the Gerrymandering Wars: Democracy vs. Math”

August 29, 2017, 7:18 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Emily Bazelon for NYT Magazine: The Republicans tried hard to keep the mapmaking process a secret. But they weren’t successful. In the first of two lawsuits brought by Democratic voters, three federal judges berated Republican leaders in 2012 for ‘‘flailing… Continue reading

Read the Brief for Appellees in WI Partisan Gerrymandering Case

August 28, 2017, 1:29 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

With Paul Smith as counsel of record.

Justice Alito Stays Order to Redo Texas Congressional Districts Pending Further Briefing at Supreme Court

August 28, 2017, 1:05 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

This short stay (briefing done right after Labor Day) preserves the status quo until the full Court can consider the questions presented after further briefing. I would not read too much into this order at this point, other than that… Continue reading

“After losses on voting laws and districting, Texas turns to Supreme Court”

August 27, 2017, 3:39 pmredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Bob Barnes column for WaPo: The state of Texas is in the midst of an extraordinary losing streak in federal courts over the way it conducts elections. It is hoping the Supreme Court will come to the rescue. In the… Continue reading

“The Equal Districts Efficiency Gap: Fundamental Gerrymandering Theory And An Analysis and Modification of the Efficiency Gap”

August 27, 2017, 3:02 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ray Wallin has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Recently the ‘efficiency gap’ method has gained notoriety by playing an important role in framing the Gill v Whitford gerrymandering case decided in Wisconsin and soon to be… Continue reading

Judge Niemeyer and intent in gerrymandering

August 27, 2017, 1:05 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

A few days ago, Rick highlighted Judge Niemeyer’s dissent in the latest order in the Maryland partisan gerrymandering case. There are, as both Judge Niemeyer and the majority pointed out, some differences between the Maryland case and the Gill v. … Continue reading

“Quantifying Partisan Gerrymandering: An Evaluation of the Efficiency Gap Proposal”

August 25, 2017, 7:40 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Benjamin Cover has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Stanford Law Review). Here is the abstract: For three decades, the Court has failed to settle on a legal test for partisan gerrymandering, and such claims have uniformly failed – until… Continue reading

“Judge Niemeyer’s dissent is the real headline in Maryland political gerrymandering case”

August 24, 2017, 5:13 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Steve Klepper: Today, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland stayed proceedings in Maryland’s political gerrymandering case, Benisek v. Lamone, pending the Supreme Court’s decision in the Wisconsin political gerrymandering case, Gill … Continue reading

“Texas House map must be redrawn, federal court says”

August 24, 2017, 5:08 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: Parts of the Texas House map must be redrawn ahead of the 2018 elections because lawmakers intentionally discriminated against minorities in crafting several legislative districts, federal judges ruled on Thursday. A three-judge panel in San Antonio unanimously ruled… Continue reading

“Here’s what the public had to say about GOP redistricting plans”

August 23, 2017, 7:35 amredistrictingRick Hasen

News and Observer: People from across North Carolina concerned about the new maps proposed to be used to elect General Assembly members in 2018 had few supportive words on Tuesday for the lawmakers who had them drafted. With votes on… Continue reading

“See the proposed NC Senate map”

August 21, 2017, 7:05 amredistrictingRick Hasen

News and Observer reports.

Texas Appeals 3-Judge Court Ruling on Congressional Redistricting to Supreme Court

August 18, 2017, 1:50 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Press release. The case is not final, and so there may be some issues with this being an appeal of an interlocutory (interim) order. On the merits, the ruling is pretty good for Texas compared to what the Court might… Continue reading

“Gerrymandering and the Constitutional Norm Against Government Partisanship”

August 16, 2017, 7:19 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

This looks good! Michael Kang has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Michigan Law Review). Here is the abstract: The Article challenges the basic premise in the law of partisan gerrymandering that government partisan purpose is constitutional at all. The… Continue reading