OnFocus – Today, in a unanimous decision, the United States Supreme Court vacated the lower court’s order in Gill v. Whitford to have Wisconsin’s State Assembly maps redrawn. All nine United States Supreme Court Justices agreed with the State’s position that plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s redistricting maps.
Attorney General Brad Schimel issued the following statement in response:
“I am pleased that the highest court in the land has unanimously reversed the trial court’s erroneous decision invalidating Wisconsin’s Assembly map. Today is win for the rule of law in Wisconsin, and a testament to the talented attorneys at the Wisconsin Department of Justice.”
Seven out of nine justices ruled that the case should be reargued in district court, allowing plantiffs another chance to provide a better standing that the Democratic voting power was diluted through gerrymandering, by focusing on proving bias in individual districts rather than the whole state.
State Representative Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) released a statement:
“While I’m disappointed that the U.S Supreme Court has chosen to sidestep the gerrymandering issue, I am heartened that this high-profile case has created public pressure to pass fair maps and end partisan gerrymandering once and for all. I thanks the plaintiffs for bringing the case and look forward to the federal court’s decision in the future.”
