A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that federal courts can’t rein in politicians who draw political maps to entrench a partisan advantage, a decision that will influence the redrawing of congressional districts after the 2020 census.
In a 5-4 opinion, the court’s conservative wing found the Constitution did not give the courts the authority to strike down maps as partisan gerrymanders. Instead, the majority wrote, that is a political question and a task for Congress and the states.
The ruling pointed to legislative efforts, including a bill from House Democrats that would require independent commissions to oversee redistricting in each state, as well as the handful of states where voters did the same through ballot initiatives.
View the complete June 27 article by Todd Ruger on The Roll Call website here.