Maryland Judge Lynne A. Battaglia threw out the new congressional map passed by the Democrat-led Maryland legislature on Friday, claiming the districts were the product of “extreme partisan gerrymander”.
- Huge setback for Democrats: the map’s rejection in court marks the first time the congressional map was found to violate the state’ constitution. The Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge who dismissed the map claimed it ‘violated the state’s constitution’s equal protection, free speech and free elections clauses for its failure to include districts that consider political subdivisions such as cities and counties’, according to an article published in The Washington Times.
- What the Judge said: “The limitation of the undue extension of power by any branch of government must be exercised to ensure that the will of the people is heard, no matter under which political placard those governing reside … The 2021 Congressional Plan is unconstitutional, and subverts that will of those governed,” wrote Judge Battaglia.
- What Governor Hogan is saying about the ruling: “puts in plain view the partisan, secretive, and rigged process that led to the legislature’s illegal and unconstitutional maps.” He continued, “For nearly eight years, we have been fighting to end the gerrymandering monopoly that has for too long been a shameful legacy of our state … This ruling is a monumental victory for every Marylander who cares about protecting our democracy, bringing fairness to our elections, and putting the people back in charge.”
- New congressional map is now on due on March 30, which leaves democrats scrambling to generate a new map on an extremely accelerated timeline. Governor Hogan has called on the state legislature to immediately pass his proposal for an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
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