Redistricting Commission in the Cards for Michigan?

Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing voter established state commissions to draw Congressional district lines, some are pushing for Michigan to implement such a system for redistricting. In the case Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, the court ruled 5-4 stating that the U.S. Constitution did not give the power of drawing Congressional district lines solely to the Legislature.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg authored the majority opinion, using arguments from previous court decisions, as well as quotes from great political thinkers such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Locke. Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Justice Elena Kagan joined Ms. Ginsburg in deciding that these commissions did not violate the Constitution or any federal statute regarding elections.

Chief Justice John Roberts authored the dissent in the case, stating that the majority has used a loophole to interpret the legislature to mean the citizens of a state. The Chief Justice argued that in the majority of references to the legislature throughout the Constitution, the legislature is referred to as an individual group. Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Clarence Thomas, and Justice Samuel Alito joined the dissent of Chief Justice Roberts.

Lon Johnson, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, stated that the court’s decision shows that gerrymandering is no longer an accepted approach to suppress voting. He accused Republicans of using unfair lines to ensure that they continue to remain in control of the Legislature. The Michigan Republican Party has not released a statement regarding the decision.

posted by PAA Online , Thursday, July 2, 2015 12:10 PM
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