Supreme Court to hear partisan gerrymandering case brought by Maryland Republicans

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post




By Washington Post Staff December 8 at 5:43 PM

The plaintiffs allege that gerrymandering by Maryland Democrats in the state’s 6th Congressional District violates their First Amendment right. The case is the second involving extreme partisan gerrymandering that the justices have accepted this term.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/12/08/supreme-court-to-hear-partisan-gerrymandering-case-brought-by-maryland-republicans

[Thor_MN]

1. Is gerrymandering really a subject that the GOP wants to bring up?

[mcar]

4. That's what I'm wondering

This could open a big can of worms for them.

[lagomorph777]

7. I hope they win!

What a bunch of maroons!

[Tiggeroshii]

2. Wouldnt the wisconsin case also affect this one?

They cant give two contradictory rulings for what amounts to be almost the same case, could they?

[Judi Lynn]

3. Partisan Gerrymandering Fight Expanded by U.S. Supreme Court

By Greg Stohr
December 8, 2017, 4:06 PM CST

The U.S. Supreme Court expanded its review of partisan gerrymandering, agreeing to consider arguments that a Maryland congressional district was unconstitutionally drawn to ensure the ouster of a Republican lawmaker.

The justices already are considering a more sweeping gerrymandering case, hearing arguments in October on a Wisconsin lawsuit that challenges the entire Republican-drawn state Assembly map.

The Maryland case adds several twists to the fight, including a reversal in which party was seeking to benefit. Maryland Democrats are defending the redrawing of the 6th District, which includes the westernmost part of the state. The district was held by Republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett until it was redrawn in 2011 to be more heavily Democratic. Democrat John Delaney now represents the district.

The new case also represents a narrower challenge, aimed at a single district rather than a statewide map. In a different context, the Supreme Court has said claims of racial gerrymandering should generally be resolved on a district-by-district basis.

More:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-08/partisan-gerrymandering-fight-expanded-by-u-s-supreme-court

[maxrandb]

5. Prediction:. Supreme Court will rule 5-4

That it's illegal for Dems in Maryland, but legal for Retrumplicans in Wisconsin.

MARK MY WORDS

[NYC Liberal]

6. Nothing changes until it hurts Republicans.

No Republican has ever won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College. That's why we still have the EC. As soon as that happens to a Republican, the EC will be gone, stat.

Same with gerrymandering. Right-wing justices will only crack down on it if it hurts Republicans.

[DeminPennswoods]

8. Bet PA case ends up accepted as well

There are 2 cases working their way through both the federal and state courts challenging the map Rs drew in 2011. The maps were actually ruled unconstitutional, but since the Rs at the time controlled the state house, senate and governorship, they were never redrawn. Anyway, Pennsylvania offers a chance to argue the same as MD because the PA-12 was drawn to oust Mark Critz, John Murtha's successor.