The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up the Arizona Legislature’s argument that only state lawmakers have the authority to draw congressional boundaries. The court also wants to hear arguments on why the Legislature believes it has the legal standing to get involved in the case. Arguments could happen early in the new year. At issue is the ongoing dispute over the nine congressional districts the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission drew in 2011. Arizona lawmakers argue that the U.S. Constitution gives only the legislature the power to draw those boundaries.
The commission argues the voters delegated that lawmaking power to it when they created the the redistricting commission in a 2000 ballot measure. The high court’s ultimate ruling will shape future redistricting efforts.
“If the Arizona Legislature prevails, only state legislatures would be permitted to draw congressional districts, effectively ending independent congressional redistricting that has been an important reform in Arizona and elsewhere,” commission attorneys said in a statement.
Full Article: U.S. Supreme Court could toss out Arizona voting boundaries.