Federal judges allow gerrymandering lawsuit to proceed [View all]

[hue]

A group of Wisconsin Democrats can proceed with a lawsuit that challenges the last legislative redistricting plan as an example of “extreme partisan gerrymandering,” after a panel of three federal judges found that the group has met legal standards to argue its case.

The judges on Thursday declined to dismiss the lawsuit, as sought by the Republican-led state Department of Justice.

“Although we believe that plaintiffs face significant challenges in prevailing on their claims, we conclude that plaintiffs’ complaint is sufficient to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,” wrote the panel, which includes U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, federal Circuit Judge Kenneth Ripple and Chief Judge William Griesbach, of the U.S. District Court in Milwaukee.

Ripple and Griesbach were appointed to their posts by Republican presidents...
...Still, the court said that DOJ could re-raise the issue in a later motion. The case is set for a trial before the three-judge panel in May.



http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/federal-judges-allow-gerrymandering-lawsuit-to-proceed/article_eaa9d0bd-52bd-5f7c-8a79-25db0614835b.html