For Immediate Release December 7, 2022
Contact: Dan Crawford, Director of Governmental Relations, 919-839-0020
Raleigh, N.C. — On Wednesday, December 7, oral arguments were made in Moore v. Harper, an appeal filed by North Carolina Republicans that seeks to give state legislatures near-total control over federal election laws, including but not limited to congressional redistricting. The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV), Common Cause, and the National Redistricting Foundation (NRF), the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, were respondents in the case.
Specifically, this Supreme Court caseis an appeal of Harper v. Hall, a landmark state court case in which the North Carolina Supreme Court determined that the congressional map enacted by Republicans in the state legislature was an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. As a result of that ruling, a state court ultimately adopted a fair congressional map. NCLCV, Common Cause and NRF all supported the decision of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Neal Katyal, counsel for the Harper Respondents, presented the case, and appeared afterwards along with Becky Harper, a respondent in the case, and representatives of the other respondents. Jessie Amunson, Jenner & Block, counsel of record for the NCLCV Respondents in the Supreme Court, also appeared at the press conference, as did Dan Crawford of NCLCV. The firms Jenner & Block and Robinson Bradshaw are representing NCLCV in this case.
“We believe every voter has the right to cast a ballot for the environment in free and fair elections and have their voice heard,” said Dan Crawford, Director of Governmental Affairs for NCLCV. “That’s why we filed our lawsuit in November 2021 challenging the legislature’s gerrymandered districts. Fortunately, checks and balances prevailed: The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the legislature had violated our state constitution and that the gerrymanders must be replaced. Moore v. Harper is about reaffirming a fundamental principle—that constitutional checks and balances apply to state legislatures and federal-election laws. Winning this case is vital to ensuring free and fair elections, which is ultimately how lawmakers are held accountable and how our organization stands up for clean air and water for the people of North Carolina.”
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The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) is a pragmatic, results-oriented, nonpartisan advocacy organization whose mission is to protect the health and quality of life for all North Carolinians, with an intentional focus on systematically excluded communities of color. We elect environmental champions, advocate for environmental policies that protect our communities, and hold elected leaders accountable for their decisions. We have worked for over 50 years to create the political environment that will protect our natural environment.
