Virginia Democrats Can Still Save Their Map. Republicans Already Showed Them How.

"Democrats are weighing their response to a dangerous Virginia Supreme Court ruling last week that struck down the new voter-approved election districts-a measure that would allow them to counter nationwide GOP gerrymandering. Democratic lawmakers have reportedly decided not to adopt a proposal to radically lower the mandatory judicial retirement age and choose new justices. Instead, they've filed a quixotic appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is responsible for the torrent of GOP gerrymandering that's sweeping the nation."

"Some argue that Democrats should take a much harder line, with New York Times columnist (and Virginia resident) Jamelle Bouie arguing for defying the state supreme court. It wouldn't be the first time that legislators have played hardball to work around restrictions on gerrymandering. Across the country, Republican lawmakers have done everything they could to defy these constitutional bans, spitting in the face of voters and packing any courts that get in the way."

"The GOP has already established the precedent of going to war with a state judiciary that attempts to rein in partisan redistricting; if Virginia Democrats try to revive their own map, they'll merely be borrowing from the Republican playbook. Consider Utah, whose state Supreme Court has faithfully enforced a voter-approved gerrymandering ban. Republicans responded by packing the court, adding two new seats to push it rightward."

"They also set up a new "constitutional court" to hear challenges to their bills and election districts, transferring a pending appeal in the gerrymandering case to the new, more pliant court. Earlier this year, lawmakers filed impeachment charges against a lower court judge who stood in the way of unfair election districts. The result of all these power grabs in Utah will be a radically different judiciary than the one that str"

A Virginia Supreme Court ruling struck down newly approved election districts, affecting efforts to counter nationwide GOP gerrymandering. Democrats are considering their response and have reportedly decided against lowering the mandatory judicial retirement age or adopting other radical changes to reshape the judiciary. Instead, they have filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is described as a source of GOP gerrymandering. The piece argues that Republicans have previously used hardball tactics to evade constitutional limits on gerrymandering, including packing courts and creating alternative “constitutional” courts. Utah is cited as an example where Republicans added seats, shifted cases to more favorable forums, and pursued impeachment against a judge blocking unfair districts, resulting in a judiciary aligned with partisan goals.

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