Alaska Supreme Court, in landmark ruling, says partisan gerrymandering violates state constitution

[Nevilledog]

https://www.adn.com/politics/2023/04/21/alaska-supreme-court-in-landmark-decision-rules-that-partisan-gerrymandering-is-unconstitutional/

In a landmark decision, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled Friday that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional under the Alaska Constitution’s equal protection doctrine.

The decision follows a contentious recent reapportionment cycle: The Alaska Redistricting Board was twice found by the state’s highest court of having unconstitutionally gerrymandered the state’s political maps by attempting to give solidly Republican Eagle River more political representation with two Senate seats. Following a court order, the board approved an interim map last year for November’s general election that kept Eagle River intact in one Senate district.

The court ruled Friday that the redistricting board would have 90 days to appear before a Superior Court judge and show cause why the interim political map should not be used until the 2032 general election. A board meeting hasn’t been scheduled yet to discuss the court’s decision, but that could happen as soon as next week.

John Binkley, chair of the Alaska Redistricting Board, said that the five-member board would need to carefully consider the court’s ruling, and that members would likely hear public testimony before deciding how to proceed. Binkley said he was personally satisfied with the interim political map, and the process he oversaw to redraw Alaska’s political boundaries.

*snip*

[Cha]

1. Wow... TY & Alaskan SC

[jimfields33]

4. It seems odd that they can't figure out their ONE house district.

Isn’t the senate seats statewide too?

[dsc]

6. they are referring to the state assembly

[Bev54]

2. Times seem to be changing.

[electric_blue68]

3. Oh, ok!

[Marthe48]

5. In ohio

the state Supreme Court twice told the r fascist supermajority that the lines they drew are unconstitutional. The r fascist majority screwed around until they said they couldn't change them for the midterm 2018, then screwed around some more until they couldn't change them for 2020, or 2022 and now somehow the s.c. has shifted to a r fascist majority, and you can bet the unconstitutional gerrymanderd districts aren't going anywhere. So expect that p.o.s gym to be a fixture in D.C. and john david bowman, aka j.d.vance (barf) as well.

I can't wait to see what Alaska does. Maybe Dems in Ohio will be able to borrow any positive action, and get our state back.

[TomDaisy]

7. Greg Abbott won't like this