Supreme Court tosses challenge to Republican-drawn Michigan electoral maps

[demmiblue]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday threw out a challenge to Republican-drawn electoral districts in Michigan that Democrats said were illegally configured to dilute their voting power, an action taken in the aftermath of major rulings by the justices in June prohibiting federal courts from hearing such claims.

The Supreme Court’s action voided an order in April by a three-judge panel to rework 34 districts in the state legislature and U.S. House of Representatives whose boundaries were crafted purely to advantage Republicans, a practice known as partisan gerrymandering.

The justices had put the panel’s decision on hold before they issued their rulings in the two major gerrymandering cases from Maryland and North Carolina. In a blow to election reformers, the justices found that federal courts have no role to play in reining in electoral map manipulation by politicians aimed at entrenching one party in power.

The Supreme Court on Oct. 7 threw out a similar case from Ohio in which a lower court had invalidated 16 Republican-drawn U.S. House districts that Democrats had said were drawn to unlawfully diminish their political clout.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-gerrymandering-idUSKBN1X01JU?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=5dadc10e8021ed0001320c64&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

[True Blue American]

1. Pete Williams

Last edited Tue Oct 22, 2019, 03:32 AM - Edit history (1)

Just said they could refile in state court.

The Republican Court is making the weak excuse that elections are state, not Federal.

But they had no problem giving the election to Bush!

[aggiesal]

21. Only when it matters to (R)'s, I thought you knew that by now ...

Do I need to add the sarcasm thingee?

No I don't!

[olegramps]

22. The real issue is life time appointments. It was a major mistake.

The Founding Fathers put fair too much faith that the justices would be honorable men and women. For them honor was a sacred mark of a person. It has been a trust that has been shown to have been misplaced in far too many instances. Each and every decision is being judged not on the objective rule of law, but far too many times in recent times solely on party affiliation. The life time appointment completely insulates them from being held accountable for obviously personal and party affiliations and beliefs that have no Constitutional foundation. It is extremely difficult to remove them by impeachment since that decision can be also be determined by party affiliation.

I would also contend that this presidency and the attempts of the Republicans Party over the last fifty years to transform the presidency into an virtual authoritarian dictatorship has again demonstrated that the office is can be abused by unprincipled people such as exemplified by the present immoral, virtually treasonous first class scoundrel. His tenure has demonstrated that there is a critical need to legislate firm checks to prevent the abuses that have been perpetrated by every Republican president since Nixon. Each Republican administration has been rocked by scandals that have had a devastating affect on government. The citizens elect representatives to conduct the affairs of office for the benefit of the nation not to be compelled to devote their efforts to investigations of criminals parading as patriots while engaged in endless illegal activities. The Republican Party has far more in common with Mafia gangsters than honest upright citizens. The citizens deserve far more than a government is perpetual chaos.

[PupCamo]

26. isn't that what the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said

when they declared the republican drawn maps there unconstitutional-it was a state matter not federal

[voteearlyvoteoften]

2. This is terrible news

Obama and Holder are right to focus on gerrymandering.
Another threat to our democracy. 🇺🇸

[moreland01]

3. Elections have consequences . .

and this is one of the worst!

[cstanleytech]

5. As was the conservative justices when they threw their support

behind gerrymandering.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. One man, one vote

but we've known for awhile that the SCOTUS doesn't want to get involved, partly partisan reasons, but also it would be a revolving door of never-ending challenges.

So we have to take it to the state court level and use state constitutions to justify equal representation.

It's just the way it's going to be at this point.

[mr_lebowski]

6. And then if we ever beat the Pubs at the state court level, they'll take it to the Supremes

again, and this gang of 5 partisan hacks will come up with SOME twisted excuse as to why, in THIS narrow case, they're justified in stepping in and reversing shit in Pubbies favor.

We know this ...

[unblock]

7. roughly 6% of african-americans identify as republican.

but that 6% gives republicans that thin veneer of deniability.

the supreme court view is that gerrymandering against race is illegal, but gerrymandering against a political party isn't.
the problem is, gerrymandering against democrats *is* gerrymandering against african-americans to all intents and purposes.

especially when the central tenet of the republican party is now overt bigotry.

[lark]

8. Not news, SCOTUS majority is Russian Repug fascist variety.

They make me sick, all 5 of them.

[RAB910]

9. Trump and the GOP have packed our Supreme Court with Constitution hating judges that hate us

they hate our rights and our freedoms.

[Wuddles440]

10. This is another example...

of why Roberts and the ReThug hacks on SCOTUS will rule against any cases that endangers the CONS illegitimate control of local, state, or federal governmental bodies. It's also safe to assume that the Mobster-in-Chief has already received assurances from the SCOTUS cabal that they will not rule against him on any issues that will compromise his ability to remain in office. Brilliant execution of their agenda by Moscow Mitch and the Federalist Society. We're fucked folks!

[maddogesq]

11. This stinks, but it's not forever.

“ Because of the decision, Michigan's political lines will remain in place at least until 2022, when a bipartisan commission created by a statewide referendum last year is expected to take over the process of drawing those boundaries.”

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/10/21/michigan-gerrymandering-us-supreme-court/4051876002/

[Thekaspervote]

19. Thx for that!! At least there's some good news in all this

[True Blue American]

29. Ohio did the same

Get it on the ballot. An unbiased committee will win every time.

Republicans did this because they were afraid Democrats would win. Do the gerrymandering in 2021!

[Crowman2009]

12. First order of business with regards to changes for the Supreme Court in 2021 would be:

1) Resume investigation against Brett Kavanaugh and kick him out.

2) Have the number of justices on the Supreme court equal to the amount of districts in the Appellate court system.

3) Have terms for justices be at 10-12 years. (optional)


I don't see any reason why certain candidates oppose any change to this antiquated system.

[Polybius]

25. Has question's 2 or 3 been asked to candidates at the debates?

I'd love to hear what they all had to say. Also 4) Expand the SC.

[CaptainTruth]

13. We really need laws (or state constitutional amendments) to address gerrymandering.

Add it to the list of changes we need to make if we want to save democracy.

[OliverQ]

14. Conservatives just argued America is not a representative democracy.

John Roberts couldn't give a crap about his legacy. He hates what this country stands for too.

[pecosbob]

15. First order of business...recapturing State Houses before the next census

and the resulting redistricting.

[SKKY]

16. This along should scare everyone enough to get out and vote in huge numbers...

...imagine if Trump gets another term. He'll for sure get another SC justice which will cement the court for the conservatives for decades. DECADES!!!!!

[James48]

17. Very sad- but not unexpected.

Unfortunately the Michigan State Supreme Court is packed with even more partisan republicans.

The only hope is that the voter passed redistricting commissions which will create 2022's districts will be able to be more neutral. And the republicans are fighting tooth and nail to destroy those, after voters overwhelmingly voted to establish neutral party creation of districts in a state referendum last fall.

[iluvtennis]

18. Just shameful. As many of us here on DU say, the rethugs can only win by cheating

[BumRushDaShow]

20. Democrats in these states need to take back control of their state legislatures

Oddly enough, because the PA State Constitution indicated that our districts had to be drawn "compact and contiguous" and the GOP gerrymandering did nothing of the sort, Democrats and other redistricting reformers were able to successfully challenge our gerrymandering based on the state law/state Constitution... and the federal courts, all the way to the SCOTUS, refused to hear the GOP complaints about their gerrymandered districts being thrown out by the PA state Supreme Court (which had a case running parallel through the state courts).

The SCOTUS also upheld the MD gerrymandering by Democrats their last session.

I.e., despite 4 Constitutional Amendments that focus on "voting", none of them explicitly address how the states should draw the lines and since they had earlier torpedoed much of the VRA, it's been more difficult to even argue gerrymandering that targets disenfranchising minorities, let alone diluting parties.

[turbinetree]

23. John Roberts ..................................

The Supreme Court Is in Danger of Again Becoming ‘the Grave of Liberty’
Supreme Court decisions have practical consequences, which justices too often blithely ignore.
By Eric Foner
July 1, 2019
https://www.thenation.com/article/eric-foner-supreme-court-john-roberts/

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

24. Moscow Mitch must be happy

Though I don't think it will save his job next election.

[Progressive Jones]

27. Legislation is needed that puts any election of a national office under full Federal control.

States can run their dog catcher elections any way they want, but all Congressional and Presidential races should be under tight Federal control. This includes Congressional districts, voting machines used, election judges -- every aspect.

[zipplewrath]

28. The problem with the fatal flaw

this is the problem that the fatal flaw in the constitution has. Currently, the 50% of the Senate is controlled by 30% of the country. That gives the minority excessive control of the Senate AND the courts that was never intended. In about 2 decades, or less, 30% of the country will control 70% of the Senate, and therefor the courts. This will allow them to also "legalize" voter suppression and gerrymandering, which will give them inordinate influence in the House as well. And the Constitution prevents us from doing anything about it. A country which is under the control of such a small minority cannot long stand.