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Supremes split on party lines in GOP remap ruling

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Illinois

* The Illinois Supreme Court rejected a bid by the Republican legislative leaders to keep their lawsuit alive against the new district map…

House Republican Leader Thomas H. Cross III and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno filed a complaint in February against the State Board of Elections and other state officials, claiming the redistricting maps are unconstitutional.

The complaint contends that 27 representative districts, including districts 113 and 114 in St. Clair County, violated provisions of the Illinois Constitution requiring districts to be compact and politically fair. Republicans claim that Democrats gerrymandered the districts in a way that would benefit their party in the next election.

The court in March ordered both parties to file briefs on whether the motion was timely under Supreme Court Rule 382, which governs actions related to redistricting challenges. The Board of Elections argued that the Republicans waited more than eight months after the maps were approved to file the complaint in an effort to delay the primary election.

The majority Democrats did not provide any reasoning for their decision. The vote was along party lines, with the three Republican justices dissenting. Justice Bob Thomas pointed to the lack of timelines in the state Constitution and in Supreme Court rules.

* House Republican Leader Tom Cross and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno issued a joint statement…

“It is unfortunate the Illinois Supreme Court issued a partisan decision,” it read. “The majority took the unusual step of providing no grounds for their decision to prevent the people of Illinois from getting their day in court. The ruling is further evidence of the need for true redistricting reform in Illinois.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 1:59 pm

Comments

Just because it split on party lines doesn’t make it partisan. Under that theory you could call the dissent partisan. The comment by Cross and Radogno shows a lack of respect for the Court. If they had won they would be applauding the decision.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 2:05 pm
Word on the street is that GOP is mulling an appeal to the UN, but Madiganistan’s Security Council vote may again kill any hope of judicial success.

Comment by Stu Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 2:29 pm
Stu

A great and thoughtful comment. LOL

Comment by MOON Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 2:48 pm
How dare those democrats be so obviously partisan.

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 2:53 pm
The action by the court was to deny a motion to file. The court often doesn’t provide justification when they deny a motion.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 3:02 pm
LOL.

Republican’s motion for injunctive relief was rejected because THEY WAITED EIGHT MONTHS TO FILE IT.

The Board of Elections argued that the Republicans waited more than eight months after the maps were approved to file the complaint in an effort to delay the primary election.

That’s the BIPARTISAN Illinois State Board of Elections.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 3:04 pm
Yellow Dog Democrat - the argument was made by the Attorney General (who represents the State Board of Elections in litigation). It wasn’t made by the actual members of the Board.

Comment by titan Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 3:45 pm
Mike Lawrence had a good Trib. article on remap in 2010, (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-03-15/news/ct-oped-0315-remap-20100315_1_senate-democrats-illinois-supreme-court-districts), but the optimism that something would be done was for naught. Of course the remap was gerrymandered. And apparently the parties’ leadership has little interest in setting aside the game.

Comment by JustaJoe Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 3:52 pm
As we all know (and has been thoroughly discussed here during this long process), if the Republicans had been in control, the maps would’ve been drawn entirely without regard for partisan makeup. Of course.

Comment by TwoFeetThick Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 4:17 pm
Recall that redistricting signed into law June 3, 2011; Suit to block by Republicans filed in federal court July 20, 2011; all counts dismissed or summary judgement in favor of plan by December 7, 2011; Not until February 8 2012 was action filed in Illinois Supreme Court with some same or similar counts as handled in federal court action. Primary election was March 20, plaintiffs did not ask for expedited action.
Hence, discussion of laches.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 4:59 pm
I do not remember the Republicans calling the court decision that upheld their redistricting map in 1991 partisan. That map was clearly drawn to favor the Republicans. They did win the draw that gave them an extra member of the redistricting committee.

Comment by Paul Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 4:59 pm
The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round…

Comment by D.P. Gumby Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 5:08 pm
Did Cross and Radogno condemn Bush v. Gore?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 5:10 pm
You win some, and you lose some. Problem is Cross and Radogno haven’t had a win for quite a while….

Comment by ToughGuy Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 6:09 pm
Thus the final nail is pounded into the state GOP coffin. The remaining question is not whether the GOP will take a bruisin’ on Nov. 6, but how bad of a debacle it will be.

Comment by reformer Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 6:33 pm
I really hate it when I have to look next door at Iowa to see a much better system.

Comment by Shemp Thursday, Jun 7, 12 @ 11:40 pm