A Three-Judge Federal Court Panel on Thursday evening, Ordered the Redrawing of 13 House and Senate Seats in Michigan, after deeming the existing District Boundaries Unconstitutional. The Ruling was in response to a Lawsuit, accusing Mappers of an Illegal process that created Districts that Disenfranchise Black Voters.
A Joint Decision from Judges Raymond Kethledge, Paul Maloney, and Janet Neff, Appointees of former President George W. Bush, said the 13 Districts in question, drawn by Michigan's Citizen-led Redistricting Commission, are “in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution,” and must be Redrawn as a result.
The Judges also ordered Michigan’s Secretary of State, to refrain from holding Elections in the Districts until they are Redrawn in Compliance with the Equal Rights Act of the U.S. Constitution.
They noted that they will Direct All Parties in the matter to “appear before this court in early January to discuss how to proceed with redrawing them.”
The Three wrote in the Opinion that the Commission's Experts relied on “general-election data alone that black-preferred candidates would 'perform well' in these districts,” adding that it “was a grave disservice to everyone involved with this case, above all, the voters themselves.”
The following Districts were Ordered to be Redrawn:
House District 1 currently represented by Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit)
House District 7 currently represented by Helena Scott (D-Detroit)
House District 8 currently represented by Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park) House District 10 currently represented by Joe Tate (D-Detroit)
House District 11 currently represented by Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods)
House District 12 currently represented by Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe)
House District 14 currently represented by Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit)
Senate District 1 currently represented by Erika Geiss (D-Detroit)
Senate District 3 currently represented by Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)
Senate District 6 currently represented by Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Township)
Senate District 8 currently represented by Mallory McMorrow (D-Macomb County)
Senate District 10 currently represented by Paul Wojno (D-Warren)
Senate District 11 currently represented by Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe)
The Landmark Ruling, comes after a Lawsuit was brought a Group of African Americans in Detroit, who alleged the Maps Violated Federal Voting Rights requirements to draw Districts that allow Protected Races the chance to Elect their Preferred Candidates.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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