News Clips

There are solutions to the problems of mass incarceration, and citizens in more and more states are mustering the political will to bring them about.

"Our plaintiffs clearly have standing and have suffered real harm by the legislature's extreme partisan gerrymandering," Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, said in a release. "This case is key to protecting the constitutional right of citizens in North Carolina and across the nation to have a voice in choosing their representatives."

The North Carolina case has an element not present in the Wisconsin or Maryland cases. Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, called it the "so-called smoking gun."

"Justice delayed is justice denied," said Common Cause executive director Bob Phillips, "however, we are confident that we have standing to be able to make our way back to the Supreme Court so that the Justices may draw a clear line against partisan political gerrymanders that leave too many Americans without fair representation."

Voting rights proponents said the ruling was a disappointment because minorities have fueled the state's population growth but have not won increased political clout. “This decision represents a severe blow to voting rights in Texas," said Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas.

“If this case is not the limit, then there may be no limit,” said Ben Thorpe, one of the lawyers representing Common Cause.