Steve Burns
WMAL.com
Washington (WMAL) – Maryland’s Congressional Districts are the second-most gerrymandered in the country, measured by a compactness standard that examines how irregular the shape is.
That, according to the conservative, non-partisan watchdog group Judicial Watch, is a disservice to all Maryland voters. They’re spearheading a lawsuit against the state.
“When you look at them, you should see a place in the district, you should a community. You should recognize, ‘Hey, that’s where I live,'” said Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch’s President. “To me, this is an abuse of the Maryland voters.”
Washington County Republican Del. Neil Parrott and St. Mary’s County Republican Del. Matt Morgan are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, along with former delegate and gubernatorial candidate Ellen Sauerbrey.
“We have a right to pick our Congressmen. This map takes away that right,” Fitton said.
A similar suit was thrown out in 2011, but Fitton says theirs is unique because it proposes a new, objective standard for measuring the constitutionality of a district’s shape.
“I would hope the State of Maryland wouldn’t waste too much money defending the indefensible here. This is a straightforward application of the rule of law and the Constitution to this abuse of authority by the Maryland Legislature and the Governor.”
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