Ohio Supreme Court again rejects Republicans' state legislative maps

[brooklynite]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court once again has struck down new state legislative maps as unconstitutionally slanted toward Republicans under Ohio’s new anti-gerrymandering rules.

In a ruling Monday evening, the court gave the Ohio Redistricting Commission until Feb. 17 to draw new Ohio House and Senate maps. Once again, retiring Republican Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor joined the court’s three Democrats in rejecting the latest set of maps, approved by redistricting commission Republicans on Jan. 22.

The same justices made a similar determination about the last set of maps on Jan. 12, ordering the redistricting commission to submit a new map within 10 days that had more Democratic-leaning districts. Both rulings cite new state constitutional language, overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2015, that say maps should favor parties to win districts in proportion to their share of the statewide vote -- 54% for Republicans and 46% for Democrats.

The latest rejected map favored Republicans to win 57 of 99 House districts and 20 of 33 Senate districts, or 58% of overall seats, compared to around 65% in the maps the court rejected last month. But a significant number of Democratic-leaning districts in the newer map were tightly competitive, while only a few Republican-leaning districts were even somewhat competitive.

Read more: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/02/ohio-supreme-court-again-rejects-republicans-state-legislative-maps.html

[bucolic_frolic]

1. "in proportion to their share of the statewide vote -- 54% for Republicans and 46% for Democrats."

I think that might be about as fair a standard as we're going to find.

[peppertree]

2. If Repugs were half as tenacious in working for the common good, as they are in cheating,

what a country this could be.

[irisblue]

3. 4-3 and this is NOT the US House of Representatives districts

My respect for Chief Justice O'Connor is still holding.

Crossed fingers for the Cong Districts.

[Cha]

4. Wow!

[BlueWavePsych]

5. YAAAAS!

[cheezmaka]

6. Thanks Ohio

Keeping up the fight for what's right!

[True Blue American]

10. We voted twice for

An unbiased committee. DeWine appointed himself and 3 Republicans to the committee. 2 Democrats. His corruption is right out in the open. They are not even trying to hide it now.

[KS Toronado]

7. I beginning to think the 50 State Supreme Courts

should be in charge of redistricting instead of their elected officials.

[SouthernDem4ever]

8. You just described SCOTUS

and look how that is turning out.

[True Blue American]

9. DeWine and Republicans

Want it to go to the Supreme Court. After all, look what they gave Alabama. Even John Roberts dissented. Too close to the election, yeah, right! They will hold hearings after the election.