State courts on gerrymandering

While the Republican U.S. Supreme Court has refused to interfere with state legislative attempts to gerrymander electoral districts (are you surprised?), a number of state courts have been willing to act.  In April the New York supreme court and the Kansas supreme court rejected districts drawn by the legislators.  The North Carolina court has imposed some limits.  Pennsylvania’s court has required new district lines.  These decisions affect both Democratic and Republican gerrymanders.

This is important because state supreme court justices, while not bound by each other’s rulings, do read the papers.  Every time a state court says no to gerrymandering, other state courts will be encouraged to act.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!