Hmmm...so indications the SCOTUS may well avoid this issue..thus leaving the prior ruling in effect. This will be seen as a victory by the Left, at least in the short term, as it leaves in place the non-partisan redistricting currently in place. I suspect that in the long term the Conservative North Carolina court will affirm the partisan redistricting that is commonly seen to favor the Republicans.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday signaled it may sidestep a ruling in a major case involving a Republican bid to give state legislatures far more power over federal elections by limiting the ability of state courts to review their actions.
The North Carolina Supreme Court last month granted a request by Republican state legislators to revisit its ruling last year against a map they devised of the state's 14 U.S. House of Representatives districts. In light of that, the U.S. Supreme Court asked the various parties in the case including the U.S. Justice Department to submit briefs offering views on the effect of the state court's actions on the justices' jurisdiction over the matter.
The state Supreme Court blocked the Republican map as unlawfully biased against Democratic voters. But the court has undergone a change in its ideological makeup - now holding a majority of Republican judges instead of Democratic judges. That could lead to a reversal of last year's ruling.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the dispute in December but has not issued a ruling in the high-profile case.
The justices' order on Thursday cited a federal law giving it jurisdiction over final judgments issued by state supreme courts. If the justices decide that they no longer have jurisdiction, they could dismiss the case.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday signaled it may sidestep a ruling in a major case involving a Republican bid to give state legislatures far more power over federal elections by limiting the ability of state courts to review their actions.
The North Carolina Supreme Court last month granted a request by Republican state legislators to revisit its ruling last year against a map they devised of the state's 14 U.S. House of Representatives districts. In light of that, the U.S. Supreme Court asked the various parties in the case including the U.S. Justice Department to submit briefs offering views on the effect of the state court's actions on the justices' jurisdiction over the matter.
The state Supreme Court blocked the Republican map as unlawfully biased against Democratic voters. But the court has undergone a change in its ideological makeup - now holding a majority of Republican judges instead of Democratic judges. That could lead to a reversal of last year's ruling.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the dispute in December but has not issued a ruling in the high-profile case.
The justices' order on Thursday cited a federal law giving it jurisdiction over final judgments issued by state supreme courts. If the justices decide that they no longer have jurisdiction, they could dismiss the case.
