Today, our date with the Supreme Court to decide the fate of partisan gerrymandering has finally arrived. The Justices will hear oral arguments in 루초 대 공통 원인, a challenge to North Carolina’s congressional districts, and 라몬 대 베니섹, a challenge to the gerrymandering of Maryland’s 6일 Congressional District. Here’s everything you need to know about the big day.
What constitutional claims are the plaintiffs making?
Because 루초 대 공통 원인 is a consolidated case with two sets of plaintiffs, the plaintiff-appellees’ case will be argued by two gifted attorneys. The first set of plaintiffs – Common Cause, the North Carolina Democratic Party, and individual plaintiffs from every congressional district in North Carolina – will be represented by 에밋 본듀런트, the founding partner at the Atlanta law firm of Bondurant, Mixson, & Elmore. Read NPR’s profile of Emmetand its description of how his public advocacy has come full circle 55 years after successfully arguing another historic redistricting case. The League of Women Voters of North Carolina plaintiffs in 루초 will be represented by 앨리슨 릭스, an experienced voting rights attorney with the North Carolina-based 사회 정의를 위한 남부 연합. 라몬 대 베니섹 has made its way up and down the courts on procedural grounds for several years, so this will be the third time Michael Kimberly of the Mayer Brown law firm will argue this challenge in front of the Supreme Court. Mayer Brown has shepherded this case to success after it was first brought by Common Cause Maryland member and activist Steve Shapiro without the help of an attorney. Read about Shapiro’s quest to hold Maryland Democrats accountable for manipulating the congressional map.
Common Cause North Carolina Executive Director Bob Phillips describing the origins of the case, including a blatant admission by a legislator that the North Carolina map was drawn for partisan advantage.
The lead attorney for the Common Cause plaintiffs Emmet Bondurant gives his take on the cases in a conference call.
Former solicitor General of the United States and current WilmerHale partner Seth Waxman, Celina Stewart of the League of Women Voters, and yours truly summarize the legal arguments.
