Supreme Court rules for GOP in South Carolina redistricting case

[demmiblue]

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Republicans in South Carolina did not unlawfully consider race when they drew a congressional district in a way that removed thousands of Black voters.

The court, divided 6-3 on ideological lines with conservatives in the majority, said civil rights group had not done enough to show that legislators were focused on race in drawing the Charleston-area district currently represented by Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican.

In doing so, the court sided with Republican state officials who said their sole goal was to increase the Republican tilt in the district.

As a result of the ruling, Mace's district will not have to be re-drawn, delivering a blow to Democrats who would have hoped to secure a more favorable map. Litigation on a separate claim brought by plaintiffs against the map could continue.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-gop-south-carolina-redistricting-case-rcna127946

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[sinkingfeeling]

1. No surprise there.

[Comfortably_Numb]

2. Ah yes, our least democratic branch of government knee caps democracy and flips us off in the process. This reich-wing

super majority will eviscerate democracy while we wring our hands and wonder what to do about them. JFC.

[peppertree]

3. PACK.THE.COURT

The law clearly calls for one justice for every federal appeals circuit - i.e. 13.

[jimfields33]

5. Maybe in January. Right now we don't have the votes.

Not even 50 senators.

[PSPS]

6. The more accurate verb would be "unpack." It's packed now.

[Bayard]

7. Interesting, so I looked it up

Per the Supreme Court website:

"The Constitution places the power to determine the number of Justices in the hands of Congress. The first Judiciary Act, passed in 1789, set the number of Justices at six, one Chief Justice and five Associates. Over the years Congress has passed various acts to change this number, fluctuating from a low of five to a high of ten. The Judiciary Act of 1869 fixed the number of Justices at nine and no subsequent change to the number of Justices has occurred."

So.... like we figured, it will take an act of Congress. Which law are you talking about?

[Solly Mack]

4. Of course it did.

Well, of course "they" did.

[wolfie001]

8. Three very crucial apathetic voter turnouts

2000, 2004 and 2016. Spread the word, every election matters!!! Always vote and always vote DEMOCRATIC!!!

[PSPS]

9. They had to rule this way because of their earlier gutting of the VRA

It used to be that either the impetus or the effect of a gerrymander had to proven. They removed the "effect" part to make it much easier to dilute the black vote. All the republicans have to do is claim the racial bias wasn't intended and it happened "by coincidence."