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The Supreme Court heard oral arguments last Tuesday in Evenwel v. Abbott, a case that has huge implications for who has a voice in our democracy.

Steve Shapiro, a Common Cause Maryland member and a longtime federal employee, filed that case that became Shapiro v. McManus on his own behalf. Though not a lawyer, he represented himself when the case came before U.S. District Judge James K. Breder in Baltimore and later when it was before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. Judge Breder dismissed the case, concluding that the claim of partisan gerrymandering is not a matter for the courts to decide. While his decision was upheld by the 4th Circuit, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the suit should have been heard and decided on the merits by a special three-judge panel.

Common Cause hosted a telephone media conference call on Evenwel v. Abbott, potential landmark case on redistricting and every citizen’s right to fair representation on Friday, Decmber 4. You can listen to the 38 minute briefing here.

This is a victory for every Floridian. Common Cause and our coalition partners pursued this case to uphold the standards for redistricting that were written into the state constitution by Florida voters in 2010.

On Tuesday evening, supporters of Issue 1 celebrated passage of bipartisan Redistricting reform.

Tuesday’s voting across America produced the first solid evidence of a new citizens’ movement to break the dominance of big money in politics and reclaim control of our democracy, Common Cause President Miles Rapoport said tonight.