November 22, 2016

Appeals court rules against Wisconsin slate legislature gerrymandering

The Hill - A federal court on Monday struck down state legislative district boundaries drawn by Republicans five years ago, ruling that the lines violated Democratic voters' constitutional rights.

The ruling by a panel of 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judges does not apply to the state's Congressional district. But it is consequential because it embraced a new justification for overturning existing district lines, by finding Republicans intentionally discriminated against voters of a certain party, rather than voters of a certain race.

 Appeals of cases involving political districting go directly to the Supreme Court. If the high court takes up the case with its current eight-member makeup, after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, a deadlocked decision would mean the three-judge panel's ruling would stand.

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