WI Attorney General: Court should stay order for new legislative maps

Republicans are ordered to redraw boundaries by November.

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel wants the U.S. Supreme Court to stay an order to redraw Wisconsin’s legislative district boundaries.

A group of voters filed a federal lawsuit in 2015 arguing the Republican-drawn boundaries unconstitutionally discriminate against Democrats. A three-judge panel agreed and ordered lawmakers to redraw the boundaries by November.

Schimel has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices haven’t decided yet whether to take the case.

Schimel filed a brief Monday asking the justices to immediately stay the order to redraw the boundaries, saying it’s likely the court will preserve the current districts and redrawing them would waste resources.

He also argues that even if the court upholds the panel’s ruling its decision will contain guidance on how to redraw the maps.

Meanwhile, USA Today reported the Supreme Court ruled Monday that racial considerations pervaded the way North Carolina lawmakers drew congressional maps after the 2010 Census in order to maximize Republicans’ advantage.

The 5-3 ruling, written by Justice Elena Kagan, was the latest in a series of decisions by the justices against the excessive use of race in redistricting, the decennial process of drawing new district lines for Congress and state legislatures. Justice Clarence Thomas joined the court’s four liberal justices in striking down the state’s maps.