A lawsuit aimed at rewriting Wisconsin’s legislative maps to favor Republicans less was filed Wednesday at the state Supreme Court, a day after the state’s highest court flipped to liberal control for the first time in years.
Law Forward, a Madison-based liberal-leaning law firm focused on voting issues, is bringing the legal challenge straight to the Supreme Court. By bypassing lower courts, the challenge would be expedited and could lead to an outcome before the 2024 elections.
“In the past 12 years, one political party captured the Legislature and has insulated itself from being answerable to the voters,” Jeff Mandell, partner at Stafford Rosenbaum and board president of Law Forward, said in a statement….
LeMahieu, in a statement, questioned the timing of the lawsuit, coming a day after Justice Janet Protasiewicz was sworn in for a 10-year term on the court and for the moment giving liberals a 4-3 majority.
“Wisconsin’s current legislative maps are valid and constitutional. Instead of redefining their radical political platform to match the values of everyday Wisconsinites, liberal Democrats are counting on judicial fiat to help them gain power,” he said.
“The timing of this lawsuit questions the integrity of the court. It’s clear that liberal interest groups are coming to collect from Justice Protasiewicz after her campaign broke judicial code to earn their financial support earlier this year.”
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said he expects Protasiewicz to recuse from the case given her comments during the campaign about the legislative maps.