Wisconsin Supreme Court Orders Redrawing of Legislative Maps

The Wisconsin Supreme Court, currently under liberal control, has overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps, directing the creation of new district boundaries. The decision, arriving less than a year before the 2024 election, has significant implications in a battleground state where past presidential elections were decided by narrow margins. The ruling, with a 4-3 majority in favor of Democrats, states that the existing legislative maps are unconstitutional due to non-contiguous districts.

Key Points:

1. Legal Ruling: The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, ruled in favor of Democrats who contended that the Republican-drawn legislative maps violate the constitution’s contiguity requirements. The majority, led by Justice Jill Karofksy, stated that current state legislative districts contain separate, detached territories, prompting the court to enjoin the Wisconsin Elections Commission from using the existing maps in future elections.
2. Implications for GOP Majorities: The decision comes as Democrats hope the redrawing of maps will weaken GOP majorities in the state. Republicans have maintained substantial control in the Legislature for over a decade under the existing maps, drawn in 2011.
3. Court’s Future Actions: The Wisconsin Supreme Court announced plans to adopt remedial maps in time for the 2024 election unless the Republican-controlled Legislature passes new maps that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers approves. All parties involved in the lawsuit can submit maps to the court, and independent consultants will evaluate the proposals.
4. Democratic Perspective: Democrats consider the ruling a victory for representative democracy, asserting that gerrymandered maps have favored rightwing interests, distorted the political landscape, and undermined fair representation.
5. Republican Response: Attorneys for the Legislature and Republican leaders have not commented on the ruling. The court’s decision puts pressure on Republicans to either pass new maps or accept the court-adopted ones for the upcoming election.
6. National Context: The ruling in Wisconsin coincides with a federal judicial panel’s decision to strike down some of Michigan’s state House and Senate districts, ordering a redraw due to alleged illegal drawing based on race.
7. Background: The redistricting case was filed after the court’s majority shifted to a 4-3 liberal control in August. Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who joined the court in April, sided with the liberal justices, emphasizing during her campaign that the GOP-drawn maps were “unfair” and “rigged.”

In summary, the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to order new legislative maps introduces a significant development in the ongoing debate over gerrymandering, potentially impacting the balance of power in the state ahead of the 2024 election. The court’s actions and the ensuing response from both parties will likely be closely monitored in the coming months.