Walker Redistricting Maps Unconstitutional...until Trump's Activist Supreme Court is in place.

Better hope the Supreme Court stays 4-4 for this one…JS-Jason Stein and Patrick Marley:

Two weeks after a stunning election defeat a federal court struck down legislative maps drawn by Republicans in 2011 … judges ruled 2-1 that the redistricting maps were “intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters throughout the (10-year) period by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats.” Depending on the outcome of a likely appeal, the case could have national implications since it includes a new method of determining whether legislative maps amount to discrimination against voters of a particular party.

“We find that the discriminatory effect is not explained by the political geography of Wisconsin nor is it justified by a legitimate state interest. Consequently, Act 43 constitutes an unconstitutional political gerrymander,” the decision reads.

The ruling found the maps drawn for state Assembly districts are unconstitutional, but the decision would alter state Senate maps as well … The ruling does not affect congressional maps, which were also redrawn in 2011. The decision also did not include immediate remedies

“We find that the discriminatory effect is not explained by the political geography of Wisconsin nor is it justified by a legitimate state interest. Consequently, Act 43 constitutes an unconstitutional political gerrymander,” the decision reads.

The ruling found the maps drawn for state Assembly districts are unconstitutional, but the decision would alter state Senate maps as well … The ruling does not affect congressional maps, which were also redrawn in 2011. The decision also did not include immediate remedies

Finding the maps unconstitutional were Kenneth Ripple, a senior judge with the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (Reagan), and U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb of Wisconsin’s Western District (Carter). U.S. District Judge William Griesbach of the state’s Eastern District dissented (W. Bush). Appeals go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, without making a stop at an appeals court.

The lawsuit represents the last, best chance of Democrats to regain hope of capturing a majority in the statehouse in the coming years. The maps drawn by Republicans have made it difficult to do so, particularly in the state Senate.

Note;

The 2012 and 2014 elections showed that the maps for the Wisconsin Assembly are some of the most heavily skewed maps in the country going back more than 40 years, the plaintiffs showed. State attorneys acknowledged that point in court filings.

A former liberal radio talk host who likes to ask the “follow-up question” at Democurmudgeon.blogspot.com