Category Archives: redistricting

“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

“Federal court invalidates part of Texas congressional map”

August 15, 2017, 8:40 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Texas Tribune reports.

Breaking: 3-Judge Court Issues Latest Order in Texas Redistricting Case (Congressional Seats), Finding Continued Intentional Racial Discrimination

August 15, 2017, 3:00 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

You can find the court’s 107-page order here. From the conclusion: In Part II, the Court concludes that the racially discriminatory intent and effects that it previously found in the 2011 plans carry over into the 2013 plans where… Continue reading

NC: “Redistricting criteria call for partisan maps, no consideration of race”

August 10, 2017, 5:10 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WRAL: Map makers can use election data to achieve political goals as they redraw North Carolina’s legislative districts, but they’re forbidden from considering voters’ race under criteria approved Thursday by the House and Senate committees overseeing the process. These rules… Continue reading

Likely the Most Important Brief Filed in the WI Partisan Gerrymandering Case Supports Neither Party

August 10, 2017, 3:23 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

This from Bernie Grofman and Keith Gaddie (with the great Josh Rosenkranz as counsel of record) may be the most important brief filed in the Gill case case: Amici seek to assist the Court in understanding recent developments in social… Continue reading