Judicial Watch: “You Don’t Seem Serious” about Fixing Districts

Last week, a special panel of federal judges held their hearing on fixing North Carolina’s unconstitutional state legislative districts, and they did not sound pleased about the General Assembly’s inaction on drawing new districts.

The same judges had ordered the General Assembly to draw new districts almost a full year ago, but in the months since legislators have done nothing but appeal, delay, and make excuses for their inaction. Yet, in court last Thursday, their attorney asked for another three and a half months to act. “You don’t seem serious” about acting to fix the problem, said U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Eagles.

During the hearing, witnesses for the parties who challenged the unconstitutional maps told the court that a fair elections process was already suffering due to the legislature’s deliberate delays. The absence of approved maps has made it difficult for potential candidates to evaluate the possibility of a campaign challenging the incumbents. Worse, they know that the very legislators they may challenge retain the ability to manipulate district lines to draw the homes of known challengers into unfavorable districts.

Some advocates for fair elections are already calling on the Court not to send the redistricting process back to the current General Assembly, which is itself the product of unconstitutional district lines and has already demonstrated its intent to delay the drawing of new district maps. The Court can instead appoint a “special master” to draw the new district maps in a neutral fashion pursuant to the Court’s directives.

The Court panel adjourned the hearing last week without indicating how it will rule on the matter. Advocates for fair elections, along with all the other interested parties, will wait for the panel’s next decision. NCLCV is among the citizen advocacy groups who understand that the ability of citizens to hold their legislators accountable for critical policy decisions requires fair and competitive election districts.

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