Justices rule 5-4 that independent panels can draw election district lines
*Expect a rush of lawsuits across the country challenging the way electoral districts are drawn. Political parties in state legislatures used the old system of drawing districts to perpetuate their hold on power. The change is not going to be automatic, there will have to be litigation at individual state levels to break the political stranglehold. Latino politics, Latino voters and Latino politicians have much to gain. VL
By Robert Barnes, The Washington Post
The case arose after Arizona voters opposed to congressional gerrymandering had taken the power away from state legislators.
[pullquote]11 other states have created commissions that have some sort of say about reapportionment.[/pullquote]The Supreme Court has largely stayed out of partisan gerrymandering cases, unable to agree on a test that would allow the court to discern when expected political maneuvering rises to the level of being unconstitutional.
Click HERE to read the full story.
[Photo by redjar/Flicikr]
