Category Archives: redistricting

“Redistricting battles heighten the stakes for 2018 gubernatorial races”

February 25, 2018, 9:33 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Dan Balz: Democrats talk about the years since 2010 as the Lost Decade, a time when a generation of future leaders was wiped out by a pair of devastating midterm elections and the absence of a strategic plan to recoup… Continue reading

Three-Judge Federal District Court in Pa Congressional Redistricting Case Sets Expedited Schedule for Briefing on Preliminary Injunction Request

February 23, 2018, 2:46 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

The court denied a temporary restraining order to prevent the use of the new district lines, holding that the matter “is not so exigent as to justify the issuance of temporary injunctive relief in light of the court’s willingness… Continue reading

Three Judge Court (All Republican Appointees) Chosen to Hear Pennsylvania Partisan Redistricting Case: Will Party of the Judges Matter?

February 23, 2018, 9:50 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Yesterday I wrote about the new federal lawsuit being brought against the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s partisan gerrymandering remedy for state congressional redistricts. I explained why this is such a long shot. I noted then that the challengers sought a… Continue reading

“Pennsylvania Republicans lost the redistricting battle. Now, they’re declaring war on the courts.”

February 23, 2018, 9:16 amjudicial elections, redistrictingRick Hasen

Christopher Ingraham for WaPo.

“Constitutional Preservation and the Judicial Review of Partisan Gerrymanders”

February 23, 2018, 8:58 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ned Foley has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This essay makes three contributions to the debate over whether the Constitution contains a judicially enforceable constraint on gerrymanders. First, it directly tackles the Chief Justice’s fear of… Continue reading

Supreme Court Sets Oral Argument in Texas Redistricting Cases for April 24

February 23, 2018, 8:53 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Calendar via Kimberly Robinson.

Arizona: “GOP Power Play Would Move This State Backward On Gerrymandering”

February 23, 2018, 8:51 amredistrictingRick Hasen

TPM reports.

“Common Cause Pennsylvania Concludes Analysis of New Congressional Maps – Finds No Violations of Voting Rights Act”

February 23, 2018, 8:36 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Statement.

New Federal Lawsuit in Pennsylvania Congressional Redistricting Litigation Seeks 3 Judge Court Order to Hold Elections Under Old 2011 Maps; Case is Longshot

February 22, 2018, 1:28 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

You can find the complaint (which may or may not have already been filed) at this link. Some of the plaintiffs are members of Congress who are not parties to the other litigation, so the Rooker-Feldman doctrine may not apply… Continue reading

“Another redistricting lawsuit filed in NC — this one over Wake election districts”

February 22, 2018, 9:25 amredistrictingRick Hasen

News & Observer: Organizations that have challenged North Carolina redistricting plans are going back to state court over the General Assembly’s redrawing last year of election districts — this time with a new lawsuit challenging four state House districts in… Continue reading

“Who Needs Congressional Districts?” and a Possible Answer

February 22, 2018, 7:20 amalternative voting systems, redistrictingRick Hasen

Michael Tomasky NYT oped: Now imagine that the state’s House delegation were chosen differently — nine from districts, and nine via general ticket. That latter group would have to win statewide. That means they’d be more likely to tailor a… Continue reading

“New Pa. congressional district map could be challenged by Common Cause, NAACP on civil rights grounds”

February 21, 2018, 6:01 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

This development is unexpected: Micah Sims, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, said his organization and the state NAACP are considering filing suit in federal court to challenge the new map imposed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court this week. He… Continue reading

Breaking: Pennsylvania Republican Legislative Leaders Petition Justice Alito AGAIN to Block Pa Congressional Redistricting Plan Ordered by State Supreme Court

February 21, 2018, 4:35 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

You can find the new petition here. The petition will go to Justice Alito, who can decide the matter himself or refer to the entire Court. Last time Justice Alito decided the matter himself, after asking for a response from… Continue reading

“Republican challenge to Pennsylvania map likely to fail; For Republicans, it’s not clear yet what legal avenue they plan to proceed with first, or the relief for which they will ask”

February 21, 2018, 8:15 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Politico reports. UPDATE: Looks like Pa Republican leaders opposed to the state Supreme Court redistricting remedy will file a SCOTUS petition AND a new separate federal district court lawsuit. Here’s why both are likely to fail.

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