USSC orders Alabama to add one more minority district

Great timing. They made sure that the districts were in place for the last election, along with a few others, which created the House majority. I look forward to Steve Vladeck's break down. Finally started his book, which is great

 

And depending upon the reasoning, which will require analysis, this could also be applicable to Florida. Remember that DeSantis went extra racist, even over the Florida legislature, last time to knock out an extra minority seat which, at least from the headline, should also be illegal under this ruling

 

Use chatgpt or another AI to draw the districts… what could go wrong?!?!?

 

Absolutely shocked. This is also a huge setback to DeSantis's arguments against the Fair District Amendments.
DeSantis, Republicans win round in Florida congressional redistricting fight

 

Who controls the computer and who writes that program? The govt? Lol.
I don’t trust it.

 

I have to say, based upon quick high-level read, I agree with Alito and disagree with Robert's majority opinion, at least in terms of application of Court's precedents. Roberts says that this is a matter of faithfully applying the prior precedents but it seems to run directly afoul of his prior specious reasoning, which completely ignored the text of the 15th Amendment and created a new species of federalism unknown and undecipherable from the Constitutional text.

I think Alito is correct that there prior precedent should allow them to continue to ignore the 15th Amendment as if it did not exist. I suspect Sam is angry at the perceived impact of pressure on the courts.

Make no mistake, the prior precedents that Sam is relying upon are completely indefensible and cannot be squared with the straightforward language of the 15th Amendment. But that never stopped them before.

 

There will ALWAYS be complaints. But I like Oklahomas idea.

 

Good thread by Melissa Murray

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this forces Louisiana to add a district based in New Orleans and a district based in Baton Rouge. As it is now, the state took areas with heavier black populations of both cities and linked them with a narrow strip that goes straight up the river to make a Democratic vote sink. Louisiana has fewer districts, but a higher proportion of black voters.

 

There are various nonpartisan criteria that also must be considered and complicate matters a bit

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11618

 

Why is that better? It looks prettier, but it doesn't speak to whether it actually is a superior map.

It's going to have a sizable impact. Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and potentially Florida and Texas will have to redraw maps. There may be more states.

 

Indeed, such a system should give us pause, as it raises the possibility of the algorithm falling into the hands of special interest parties. However, it should be noted that the current system openly gives the entire decision to special interest parties.

I think gerrymandering is one of the most issues we need to address. I could never think of rule by which to do it, but @OklahomaGator’s idea of minimizing circumference is an interesting one. We could also have a decision making body that includes members of the major parties. While neither of those seem like perfect ways to guard the henhouse, they both seem to me to be superior to the current system of asking the wolves to do it.

 

Efficiency gap is the proposed discernible standard. Not accepted by USSC

https://www.brennancenter.org/sites...ork/How_the_Efficiency_Gap_Standard_Works.pdf

 

Yes, but that doesn't in and of itself mean it'll create good maps.

 

His optimization is “draw me the prettiest map”. I guess it’s better than a political party that’s optimization says “draw me the map that gives me the most control”. But only just.

The most “free market” one would be “draw me the map that makes the most competitive districts”. That would eliminate a lot of clowns in “safe” seats.