The Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned the state's existing legislative maps. The court agreed with Democrats that Republicans had created two classes of voters through extreme gerrymandering, with one subordinate “to the abusive fiat of the other.”
Writing for the majority, Justice Jill Karofsky stated that legislative districts with disconnected pieces of territory violated the requirements in the state constitution.
New maps for the crucial swing state must be approved before the 2024 election. The court is prepared to act unilaterally if the Republican legislature and Democratic governor cannot come to an agreement.
“Wisconsin is a purple state, and I look forward to submitting maps to the Court to consider and review that reflect and represent the makeup of our state,” Gov. Tony Evers said on Friday.
USA Today reports:
Law Forward, a Madison-based liberal-leaning law firm focused on voting issues, brought the legal challenge straight to the Supreme Court in August — bypassing lower courts in an expedited effort to put new maps in place before the fall.
The court ordered lawmakers to have new maps adopted for the August legislative primary. Wisconsin Elections Commission officials have said new maps must be in place by March 15.
The ruling forces half of the state Senate and the full Assembly to run in new legislative districts. Republicans currently hold 64 of 99 seats in the state Assembly and a supermajority in the state Senate, with 22 of 33 seats.
The 4-3 ruling comes months after liberals gained a majority on the high court, for the first time in 15 years.
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