Court Instructs Redistricting Special Master
by CTNewsjunkie Staff | Jan 5, 2012 12:26pm
(1) Comment | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Congress, Courts, Election 2012
Two days earlier than anticipated the Supreme Court released its instructions for the special master appointed to oversee the drawing of Connecticut’s five congressional districts.
In its order, the court told Special Master Nathaniel Persily he “shall modify the existing congressional districts only to the extent reasonably required to comply with the following applicable legal requirements: a. Districts shall be as equal in population as is practicable. b. Districts shall be made of contiguous territory. c. The plan shall comply with 42 U.S.c. § 1973(b) and with other applicable provisions of the Voting Rights Act and federal law.”
The order says in no event should the lines be substantially less compact than the existing congressional districts and in no event shall the plan violate town lines more than the existing congressional districts. There are currently 6 towns split between various congressional districts.
The order goes onto say that any interested party or member of the public shall submit to the special master 25 copies of their proposed redistricting maps, accompanied by supporting documentation, data, and briefs by noon Friday, Jan. 6.
A public hearing on the proposals will be held on Monday, Jan. 9 at the Legislative Office Building.
-Click here to read how both parties thought the court should order the special master
Tags: Redistricting, supreme court, Republicans, Democrats, special master
Comment
posted by: Maderine Rue | January 5, 2012 5:41pm
This is a Brilliant order! Here’s why:
“4. In fashioning his plan, the Special Master shall not consider either the residency of incumbents or potential candidates or other political data, such as party registration statistics or election returns.”
Hurrah! The Court has thus excluded Exactly what ought to be excluded. (Note: legally & Constitutionally, a Rep in Congress, or a candidate for same, is NOT required to reside within the District represented or in which election is sought. / Politically it’s Desirable of course, but hey: Tough. If it’s all that important, you can always Move. 
Also wisely, the order provides:
“8. At the hearing at noon on January 9, 2012, a representative of the Secretary of State’s [sic - “the” is omitted] Office shall appear to answer any questions concerning the relationship of the redistricting process to questions of election administration and the drawing of precincts.”
That’s good work, SCOCT.