Category Archives: redistricting

“Laboratories of Democracy Reform: State Constitutions and Partisan Gerrymandering”

February 17, 2019, 8:04 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Sam Wang, Richard Ober, & Ben Williams have posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Despite multiple opportunities to address the issue, the Supreme Court has declined to take action on partisan gerrymandering. Here we argue that the… Continue reading

“Gerrymandering & Justiciability: The Political Question Doctrine After Gill v. Whitford”

February 14, 2019, 8:59 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Mike Parsons has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Partisan gerrymandering claims occupy a unique purgatory in constitutional law, floating between justiciable and nonjusticiable. This term, the Supreme Court will finally decide. The issue said to divide… Continue reading

Utah: “A state lawmaker says a San Juan County split should be on the table, after a court-ordered redistricting that ‘disenfranchised’ his voters”

February 10, 2019, 4:33 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Salt Lake Tribune: After a landmark power shift that gave San Juan County its first majority Navajo Democrat commission, a state lawmaker from mostly white, Republican Blanding is broaching the subject of secession.The sheer size of the state’s largest… Continue reading

“Federal judges reject state of Ohio’s request to delay gerrymandering trial”

February 10, 2019, 4:29 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Cleveland.com: A three-judge federal panel on Friday rejected a request from the state of Ohio to delay a gerrymandering lawsuit that aims to put a new Ohio congressional district map in place in time for the 2020 election.The state wanted… Continue reading

North Carolina Cites ELB Blog Post by Nick Stephanopoulos to Argue Court Intervention in Partisan Gerrymandering Cases is Unnecessary

February 8, 2019, 1:13 pmredistricting, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

From the opening brief:

“The Civil Rights Division Bails Out of Bail-In in Texas”

February 8, 2019, 1:12 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Justin here. I’ve got a new post up at the Take Care blog, on a filing last week from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. It’s a reversal of position, signed by a political appointee rather than career staff, of a request… Continue reading

SCOTUSBlog Begins Symposium on Partisan Gerrymandering Cases

February 7, 2019, 8:20 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

You can find the initial entries here (I will update when there are more entries–I declined to participate in the symposium because like Justice Kennedy I remain uncertain about how these cases should be handled): Special Feature: Symposium before the… Continue reading

“Racial Gerrymander Defender Next in Line if Va. Dems Go”

February 7, 2019, 7:34 amredistrictingRick Hasen

USLW: A constitutional crisis mainly driven by race and threatening to wipe out the Democratic executive leadership in Virginia could elevate a Republican fighting to preserve state voting districts that critics say disadvantage blacks.Kirk Cox, now the speaker of… Continue reading

“New emails show Michigan GOP used maps to consolidate Republican power”

February 4, 2019, 4:27 pmredistricting, UncategorizedRick Hasen

Bridge MI: New evidence submitted on the eve of a landmark trial challenging Michigan’s GOP-drawn legislative districts appears to strengthen the claim the maps were drawn in 2011 for partisan, Republican gain.Emails and other documents filed over the weekend in… Continue reading

“A Commissioner’s Guide to Redistricting in Michigan”

February 4, 2019, 3:05 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Sam Wang: Today we’re releasing a detailed report on Michigan’s new Independent Citizens’ Redistricting Commission!In November, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to their state constitution to remove the power of the state legislature to draw legislative and Congressional… Continue reading

“Voting Rights and Wrongs:” Watch Kathay Feng, Justin Levitt Michael Morley, Franita Tolson Discuss Voting and Gerrymandering Issues with Me at the Hammer Museum

February 3, 2019, 12:31 pmelection administration, redistricting, The Voting Wars, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

You can watch this great conversation here. Voting Rights and Wrongs: Hammer Museum, Jan. 31, 2019

“Court rejects settlement in Michigan gerrymandering suit”

February 2, 2019, 9:17 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Detroit News: A lawsuit alleging partisan gerrymandering by Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature is heading toward trial next week after a three-judge panel rejected a settlement proposed by Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and plaintiffs. Benson does not have the authority… Continue reading

Michigan: “GOP asks Supreme Court to block Dem settlement in gerrymandering suit”

January 25, 2019, 3:18 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Detroit News: Michigan Republicans are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hit pause on a federal lawsuit alleging GOP gerrymandering, a move that could disrupt a settlement agreement announced Friday by Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Benson’s deal… Continue reading