Our Fight for Fair Maps Continues
On June 27, the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal judiciary cannot rein in partisan gerrymandering.
READ THE DECISION
Chief Justice John Roberts: “We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts. Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions.”
Justice Elena Kagan's dissent: "The partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people."
BACKGROUND ON OHIO'S GERRYMANDERING CASE:
On May 3, the federal panel of three judges declared Ohio's congressional districts unconstitutional!
"We join the other federal courts that have held partisan gerrymandering unconstitutional and developed substantially similar standards for adjudicating such claims. We are convinced by the evidence that this partisan gerrymander was intentional and effective and that no legitimate justification accounts for its extremity."
READ THE DECISION
MORE INFORMATION
COMPILATION OF ALL THE FILINGS ABOUT A. PHILIP RANDOLF INSTITUTE v. HOUSEHOLDER
On May 6, the State of Ohio appealed the judges' ruling that tossed out current congressional maps to the US Supreme Court. In March, the highest court in the land heard two cases of about partisan gerrymandering: a Republican gerrymander in North Carolina (Rucho v. Common Cause) and a Democratic gerrymander in Maryland (Lamone v. Benisek).
On May 9, a three judge panel of the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio denied the State of Ohio's request to put their order to redraw congressional districts on hold.
On May 13, the US Supreme Court ordered the parties to Ohio's gerrymandering lawsuit to file briefs by May 20 about the State of Ohio's request to suspend order requiring new maps by June 14.
On May 24, the US Supreme Court granted the State of Ohio's request for a delay in mapmaking. This means that the state legislature does not have to draw new maps by June 14. The highest court should announce rulings in Rucho v. Common Cause and Lamone v. Benisek before the end of June. These decisions should provide direction for Ohio's gerrymandering case.
On June 5, the US Supreme Court granted the State of Ohio's request for a delay of the appeal process until July 19, 2019. Some context: While the State’s position is that a new map would need to be in place by September 20, 2019, the current congressional map wasn’t approved by the legislature until December 15 of the year prior to its use.
Thanks to the hard work of redistricting reformers all over the state, voters approved a historic state constitutional amendment that will institute strong protections against the congressional partisan gerrymandering. Voters were clear that we all deserve fair districts and fair elections. Issue 1 of May 2018 won by 74.85%!
READ THE DECISION
Chief Justice John Roberts: “We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts. Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions.”
Justice Elena Kagan's dissent: "The partisan gerrymanders here debased and dishonored our democracy, turning upside-down the core American idea that all governmental power derives from the people."
BACKGROUND ON OHIO'S GERRYMANDERING CASE:
On May 3, the federal panel of three judges declared Ohio's congressional districts unconstitutional!
"We join the other federal courts that have held partisan gerrymandering unconstitutional and developed substantially similar standards for adjudicating such claims. We are convinced by the evidence that this partisan gerrymander was intentional and effective and that no legitimate justification accounts for its extremity."
READ THE DECISION
MORE INFORMATION
COMPILATION OF ALL THE FILINGS ABOUT A. PHILIP RANDOLF INSTITUTE v. HOUSEHOLDER
On May 6, the State of Ohio appealed the judges' ruling that tossed out current congressional maps to the US Supreme Court. In March, the highest court in the land heard two cases of about partisan gerrymandering: a Republican gerrymander in North Carolina (Rucho v. Common Cause) and a Democratic gerrymander in Maryland (Lamone v. Benisek).
On May 9, a three judge panel of the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio denied the State of Ohio's request to put their order to redraw congressional districts on hold.
On May 13, the US Supreme Court ordered the parties to Ohio's gerrymandering lawsuit to file briefs by May 20 about the State of Ohio's request to suspend order requiring new maps by June 14.
On May 24, the US Supreme Court granted the State of Ohio's request for a delay in mapmaking. This means that the state legislature does not have to draw new maps by June 14. The highest court should announce rulings in Rucho v. Common Cause and Lamone v. Benisek before the end of June. These decisions should provide direction for Ohio's gerrymandering case.
On June 5, the US Supreme Court granted the State of Ohio's request for a delay of the appeal process until July 19, 2019. Some context: While the State’s position is that a new map would need to be in place by September 20, 2019, the current congressional map wasn’t approved by the legislature until December 15 of the year prior to its use.
Thanks to the hard work of redistricting reformers all over the state, voters approved a historic state constitutional amendment that will institute strong protections against the congressional partisan gerrymandering. Voters were clear that we all deserve fair districts and fair elections. Issue 1 of May 2018 won by 74.85%!
Who Are We?
The Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition is committed to reining in partisan gerrymandering. We seek fair state legislative and congressional maps that keep communities together because we believe that all elections should be fair and meaningful.
Who Supports Congressional Redistricting?
This site is paid for by the League of Women Voters of Ohio, 100 E. Broad St., Suite # 1310, Columbus, Ohio 43215. To contact the League, please call 614-469-1505.