Ohio Supreme Court votes 4-3 to strike down GOP-drawn legislative maps

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/12/redistricting-ohio-supreme-court-rejects-state-house-and-senate-maps/6447740001/

The Ohio Supreme Court struck down GOP-drawn state House and Senate maps as unconstitutional gerrymandering in a 4-3 decision Wednesday, sending the Ohio Redistricting Commission back to the drawing board.

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor was the key vote, breaking with her party to rule against the maps. O'Connor, a Republican, joined the court's three Democratic justices and the three GOP justices dissented.

The new plan shall be adopted within 10 days, and the Ohio Supreme Court retains jurisdiction for review of the new plan, according to a court filing.

Now, the seven-member commission faces a time crunch to craft new maps because Feb. 2 is the current deadline to file paperwork to run for the Ohio Legislature. State lawmakers could change that filing date without moving the May 3 primary.

Advocates of fair maps hailed the decision as a resounding victory for Ohio voters who overwhelmingly approved changes to the state constitution to limit partisan line-drawing.

*snip*

[ColinC]

1. Well that's kind of a big deal!

Solid 3 seats could be gained from this decision...

[Nevilledog]

19. This was one Marc Elias was involved with

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Marc E. Elias
@marceelias
🚨BREAKING: Ohio Supreme Court STRIKES DOWN state legislative districts as partisan gerrymanders.

Big victory for @EliasLawGroup, the National Redistricting Action Fund and the voters of Ohio!

democracydocket.com
🚨 Voting Rights Victory in Ohio
Learn about the latest voting rights victory in League of Women Voters of Ohio v. Ohio Redistricting Commission.
1:28 PM · Jan 12, 2022

[budkin]

2. This is HUGE news and that's not hyperbole

This could drastically improve our chances of holding on to the House.

[ColinC]

3. Yep. And there are definitely a few states where I think the same possibility is likely

I wonder if Dems can end up with far more than at least a slight advantage in 5-10 seats.

[ColinC]

5. Just noticed this only applies to the state legislative maps and not the congressional districts

But one can assume that in the congressional case, the court will use the same or similar logic in their ruling.

[Fullduplexxx]

9. The Ohio Supreme Court is also reviewing the GOP-drawn congressional map, which was challenged by tw

The Ohio Supreme Court is also reviewing the GOP-drawn congressional map, which was challenged by two lawsuits. A ruling on that map is still pending.

Earlier in the day, U.S. District Court Judge John Adams placed a federal case challenging state and congressional maps on hold for 60 days while the Ohio Supreme Court reviewed several pending lawsuits.

[ColinC]

11. Yeah.

I would expect it to go the same direction...

[Fullduplexxx]

4. I just fell out of my chair and when I hit the floor my shoes shot off my feet

[moonscape]

10. LOL!

[Fullduplexxx]

6. Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor was the key vote, breaking with her party to rule

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor was the key vote, breaking with her party to rule against the maps. O'Connor, a Republican, joined the court's three Democratic justices and the three GOP justices dissented.

[Wuddles440]

13. Kudos to O'Connor...

for once again exercising some judicial independence, but a a big FU to Patty Dewine who refused to recuse himself even though his father (Gov. Dewine) was a defendant in the suit.

[EleanorR]

18. That was a serious banana republic level move by Dewine

So glad to hear he and his cronies got roundly slapped down.

[qazplm135]

7. Nice

Little victories like this add up

[crickets]

8. Good news! K&R

[highplainsdem]

12. Very welcome news!

[mvd]

14. K&R

This is important. Kudos to a rare Repuke that breaks from party.

[irisblue]

15. Wow. I am surprised.

[Notek]

16. Yay!

[madville]

17. So they basically just need to appease the swing vote

The sole Republican who voted against, hmm. Sounds like a strategy so they can make a few minor changes then say “hey we redrew the thing to make everyone happy, quit complaining!”.

[bucolic_frolic]

20. What excuses did the 3 Republican justices use to ignore the state constitution?

[c-rational]

21. Bingo.

[Skittles]

22. OK I am very impressed

WELL DONE

[spanone]

23. ...K&R...

[GB_RN]

24. NC Superior Court Just Ruled The Other Way Here

With a 3 judge panel (2 Repukes, 1 Democrat), they ruled that the gerrymanders were legal (a 260 page ruling, issued just days after the trial ended. Don't ask me how they managed that). The plaintiffs have already vowed to appeal and can take it to the NC Court of Appeals or possibly straight to the NC Supreme Court, where the Democrats hold a 4-3 advantage.

My guess is that once the NCSC gets hold of this case, they will rule it an illegal gerrymander, in violation of NC's constitutional requirement for free and fair elections (along with several other complaints) and require new maps at both the state and federal levels. 🤞

[librechik]

25. Ok, OK...There is a god.

So now let's all start praying for justice.