The U.S. Supreme Court has set arguments for Monday, March 21, in Virginia’s congressional redistricting case. The high court is taking up an appeal by Republicans in Virginia’s congressional delegation. They are challenging rulings by a three-judge panel that in 2012 state legislators unconstitutionally packed too many additional African-Americans into the majority-minority 3rd District, represented by Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, thereby diluting their influence in adjacent districts.
On Jan. 7, the three-judge panel imposed a new Virginia congressional map that centers Scott’s district in Hampton Roads. The new map adds Richmond and Petersburg to the 4th District, represented by Republican J. Randy Forbes, improving Democrats’ chances of winning the district in November.
The new map makes lesser changes to the districts of three other Republicans, Reps. Dave Brat, R-7th, Robert J. Wittman, R-1st, and Scott Rigell, R-2nd.
Full Article: U.S. Supreme Court sets March 21 arguments in Va. redistricting case – Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia Politics.