Associated Press: Criticism over latest NC redistricting back at Supreme Court

Associated Press: Criticism over latest NC redistricting back at Supreme Court

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs, which include the N.C. League of Conservation Voters and Common Cause, won in February a landmark state Supreme Court ruling. The legislative seat boundaries also keep discriminating against Black voters, said Hillary Klein, a lawyer representing Common Cause. Klein and another attorney said legislative maps remained skewed toward Republicans and fail to give Democrats the same chance as the GOP to win governing majorities should they receive similar statewide voter support as Republicans -- a standard the state Supreme Court in February.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Supreme Court returned to the state’s recent divisive round of redistricting on Tuesday, as justices heard further challenges to General Assembly and congressional district lines getting used for next month’s elections.

The state’s highest court listened to arguments from lawyers speaking for advocacy groups and voters who filed and initially won months ago partisan gerrymandering lawsuits, and for Republican legislative leaders who drew maps last year based on census figures that were struck down. …

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs, which include the N.C. League of Conservation Voters and Common Cause, won in February a landmark state Supreme Court ruling.

In a 4-3 decision, the court’s Democratic justices declared that partisan gerrymandering violates the state constitution and that the congressional and legislative lines approved by the GOP-controlled legislature last year unfairly favored Republicans. The three Republican justices said the majority had gone on a power trip and usurped the legislature’s responsibility to draw maps.

But the plaintiffs’ attorneys said Tuesday the state House and Senate district maps that the legislature redrew based on that ruling — and the justices said could be used for this year’s election — still fall short.

The legislative seat boundaries also keep discriminating against Black voters, said Hillary Klein, a lawyer representing Common Cause.

Klein and another attorney said legislative maps remained skewed toward Republicans and fail to give Democrats the same chance as the GOP to win governing majorities should they receive similar statewide voter support as Republicans — a standard the state Supreme Court in February.