U.S. Supreme Court blocks redrawing of Ohio, Michigan electoral maps

[yaesu]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Friday blocked lower court rulings ordering Republican legislators in Michigan and Ohio to redraw U.S. congressional maps ahead of the 2020 elections, dealing a blow to Democrats who had argued that the electoral districts were intended to unlawfully diminish their political clout.

The justices granted requests from Republican lawmakers in both states to put those decisions on hold, halting further action in the cases and the need to rework electoral district boundaries. The justices did not provide any explanation for their brief orders.

The lower courts found that the electoral maps in the two states had been drawn to entrench Republicans in power by manipulating boundaries in a way that reduced the voting clout of Democrats - a practice known as partisan gerrymandering - in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

While both disputes involve U.S. House of Representatives districts in the two states, the Michigan case challenges districts in the state legislature as well.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-gerrymandering/u-s-supreme-court-blocks-redrawing-of-ohio-michigan-electoral-maps-idUSKCN1SU292

[StevieM]

1. The Republicans are done with democracy. (eom)

[yaesu]

3. the fascist supreme court showing its true colors. nt

[DownriverDem]

26. Michigan

will work hard to win. We did win one of the rep seats in the Midterms. Our state voted in Dems for Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State. Both our Senators are Dems too. Also we voted for drawing district lines by a citizen committee after the 2020 census. Of course the repubs are challenging it. We need to break up the gerrymandered districts.

[Polybius]

45. The vote was unanimous though

At least according to the poster I asked.

[StevieM]

46. Either way, the vote to sustain the current gerrymandered maps will not be unanimous.

That will be 5-4.

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. I'm not sure if there's anything more dangerous to our

Democracy than a partisan Supreme Court. The rule of law has become what Repugs say it is.

[yaesu]

4. we can expect the same kind of decision when tRumps appeals reach the court. nt

[customerserviceguy]

62. Add to that

the imminent decision about the citizenship question on the census. I've read that it has to be done by June in order to have forms printed up.

[bluestarone]

5. Got the feeling we are owned!

America as we have known it, NO LONGER EXISTS!!

[gtar100]

6. Well, hey, republicans need all the help they can get.

Since they can't rely on good ideas to get people to vote for them.

[riversedge]

7. The SC....has never curbed gerrymandering for purely partisan purposes..........

Crap, crap crap!!


The Supreme Court has previously intervened when legislators impermissibly sought to dilute the voting power of racial minorities, but it has never curbed gerrymandering for purely partisan purposes.

The Michigan and Ohio lawsuits were filed by voting rights groups and individual Democratic voters. Nine U.S. House and 25 state legislative districts were at issue in Michigan, while Ohio’s case involved 16 U.S. House districts.

[dalton99a]

8. Democrats must expand the court when they regain power.

[BadgerMom]

12. Yes.

[AdamGG]

16. FDR tried that

Increasing the court from 9 to 12 and it was thought to be an overreach of power and he failed. I'm skeptical whether President Biden, or whoever could pull it off.

We just need to hope that Clarence Thomas auto-erotically asphyxiates himself some time after January, 2021.

[oasis]

42. +1

[Texin]

44. What actually makes you think we ever will regain power?

Right now the prospects look pretty bleak to me.

[Guilded Lilly]

9. Term limits for The Supreme Court. No lifetime appointments for any courts.

[Perseus]

13. I will vote for that

This must be on the Democrats' agenda

[BigmanPigman]

19. Me too.

[TheFarseer]

57. Wow. That's actually a really good idea

It prevents very elderly justices from hanging on too long and prevents the president from picking a toddler just so they will be on the court forever. Gotta give that moron credit for a good idea.

[cannabis_flower]

60. It's probably not his idea!

[Fresh_Start]

10. I used to believe that we were going to lose the courts for a generation

I don't believe that anymore

I now believe we're going to lose the courts until there is no longer any USA

[mountain grammy]

37. Yep.

[RandiFan1290]

65. This is what they've been working on

Those of us warning about it were told to shut up and sit down while our elected officials 'moderated' with these nazis.

[DeminPennswoods]

11. IIRC, voters in both Ohio and Mich

passed ballot initiatives that will put a non-partisian citizens committee in charge of the next re-districting after the 2020 census. Michigan has a Dem gov, so even if Rs try to block the initiative, there won't be the same very partisan re-districting.

[True Blue American]

58. Republicans put

The independent Committee on the ballot in Ohio. But does not takeplace until 2021

I did read the Supreme Court only put the cases on hold because they have other cases to decide.

[ffr]

14. Yet again, there's no difference between electing democrats or republicans

Republican domination of redistricting in their favor and having the highest court in the land as backup is proving the perfect combination. Like having the Attorney General violate every law and norm and endanger the entire country to protect his boss.

[Honeycombe8]

17. What do you mean "no difference between electing democrats or republicans" ?

It's a Republican-packed Supreme Court, deciding not to make two states redraw gerrymandered districts that were drawn to favor Republicans.

[OMGWTF]

30. Beg to differ...there is a shittonne of difference between Rs and Ds. Where the fk have you been?

[ffr]

38. Really guys? I laid that on so thick you can't see through it.

But in case you are unclear, it was

[Honeycombe8]

15. And so it begins...the stealing of another election?

Only this not, they don't have just Russia.

[turbinetree]

18. The justices did not provide any explanation for their brief orders.

they, the fucking Roberts right wing fascist court, should fucking have to explain themselves when it comes to this stuff....................this is fucking inexcusable.....................Roberts let's not forget gutted voting rights in Shelby vs Holder...........................................the Federalist Society assholes should be impeached..........

[bluestarone]

21. MY thoughts EXACTLY!!

[onenote]

49. Again, standard operating procedure

The Court rarely provides a full opinion when it issues a stay order.

[lark]

20. It appears SCOTUS is just an arm of the repug party, cares nothing for constitution.

Russian Repugs above all law, including the constitution. If they block the Congressional subpoenas, as I expect them to, we are in serious trouble.

[bluestarone]

22. Well if they block the congress from doing their job

This country should really come to life!! (not that it shouldn't ALREADY) THIS has to be stopped

[ananda]

23. I've been very disturbed at our acquiescence ..

.. to what should be intolerable government acts and policies,
most especially in regards to elections and the right to vote.

Ever since Florida 2000 we have been on a downward slide,
and I don't see that changing without massive protest that
continues until these problems are redressed.

Just because the SC makes a ruling, doesn't make it right.

[NRaleighLiberal]

27. Absolutely.

[OMGWTF]

31. I wish we could "up vote" on DU.

[TomCADem]

40. Susan Sarandon: Trump 'unintentionally' energized politics

There is a a view among some progressives that Trump is a positive force by pushing racism, undermining democracy and taking away reproductive rights, that things will get bad enough before real change can happen. Here is Susan Sarandon talking about the benefits of letting things get really bad:

https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/406559-susan-sarandon-trump-unintentionally-energized-politics

Actress Susan Sarandon said in a recent interview that President Trump “unintentionally” helped energized politics and inspired more women and people of color to run for office.

“Donald Trump has, if anything, inspired more women and people of color to run for office, says actress Susan Sarandon,” Variety tweeted teasing the interview with Sarandon.

"So many women, I think 40 percent more women are running for office and becoming elected," Sarandon said in a clip of the interview featured in the tweet. "We're on the verge of having the governors of Florida, Georgia and Maryland be people of color and one woman. This is a revolution."

Sarandon said “maybe things had to get so bad before real change could happen."

[onenote]

24. Standard operating procedure

There are gerrymandering cases pending before the court. Maintaining the status quo until those cases are resolved is hardly a surprise

[Jedi Guy]

59. Shhh, don't interrupt the rage-fest with your common sense. N/T

[mwooldri]

25. My understanding is that there was an appeal put to SCOTUS...

... and the rulings of the lower courts have been placed on hold pending further review. There are other cases involving gerrymandering up for SCOTUS review, so it seems right that SCOTUS are putting the brakes on right now.

[pbmus]

61. ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆

[MichMan]

28. According to other articles, there were no dissents issued in the ruling

[OMGWTF]

29. Pardon my French, but "MOTHERFKINGGDDAMNSHITALLTOHELLCOCKSKINGGDAMNTRAITORS!"

[not_the_one]

48. "cocksking"

You use that like it is an insult.

Do you know what website you are on???

[Gymbo]

32. Call it What it Really is

The U.S. Supreme Court allows Republican election rigging, because that is exactly what they are allowing.

[Smackdown2019]

33. Anti-Trumpism

One wonders how much money has been put in the justice's pockets.

We will NOT take back control of our democratic government. It ended January 21, 2017.

Trump will most likely declare the democratic party as enemies of the state and try to round up all the party members, liberal media, and liberal opposition. Whisk them off without any word and scare bajesus of all the citizens, except the trumpers that be hooting and hollering. Scary times ahead!

Never in my life or your life can anyone imagine this could actually happen in the USA!

But.... look!

Trump is bypassing Congress totally and denying their oversight rights as an equal branch.

[oldsoftie]

43. And its not going to happen now. Fearmongering. The Dems won a TON of seats in '18.

And when some of the red states go blue in their state legislatures, the Dems will be the ones drawing the NEXT district maps. Its onyl a matter of time. Even GEORGIA has only a tiny GOP state majority.
SURE, it sux right now, but believe it or not this country HAS been even more divided in the past than it is today. And we will move forward starting with next years election.
All is not lost, and trump doesnt have near the power he'd like to have

[oldsoftie]

63. See post #47

Sure, theres problems. And they need to be addressed. And even so, the Dems took the House in 18, winning some districts that havent been held by a Dem in years. And some of those districts were heavily Trump in '16, so apparently there wasnt any tampering there.

[oldsoftie]

66. Which is why i was kind enough to point it out. It explains this decision. Which was UNANIMOUS.

9-0 usually means there's not a bogeyman in the room
And a happy memorial day to you as well.

[Gymbo]

34. Turns out that this is a nothingburger

It was unanimous, with no dissents. The move was widely expected, as the court is also considering the same issue in Maryland and North Carolina. An opinion is expected in late June before the current session ends.
More at the link: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/24/politics/supreme-court-gerrymandering-michigan-ohio/index.html

[onenote]

50. Exactly. But don't expect the hysterics to die down on this thread

Folks who don't know anything about Supreme Court practice opining on Supreme Court practice -- never a good idea.

[pandr32]

51. Thank you for this!

[Polybius]

35. What was the vote?

It doesn't say.

[MichMan]

41. Unanimous

[roamer65]

39. In MI, our new independent districting commission will handle it for 2022.

We are going to lose a seat, so I’m sure they will handle it well.

[jgmiller]

47. Everyone take a deep breath....

There are already two similar cases that SCOTUS heard and will be issuing rulings on in June. This is typical of them, they aren't going to let another case go forward while they have pending decisions. Everyone can freak out on them in a month if the rulings for NC and MD are not what we want.

[BlueIdaho]

53. Thank You

For showing calm and reason in an unreasonable time. This TEMPORARY order makes sense given what’s in the Court’s docket.

[SCantiGOP]

54. thanks, jgmiller

I was going to post something similar last night but there was just too much doom and gloom chicken little going on in this thread.