Judge rejects New York’s redistricting plan, orders new mapsBy Bernadette Hogan and Carl Campanile
March 31, 2022
An upstate judge rejected New York State’s newly drawn congressional district maps, ruling them unconstitutional and ordering the Democratic-controlled Legislature to redraw the maps.
“Part of the problem is these maps were void …for failure to follow the constitutional process of having bipartisan maps presented by the [independent redistricting commission]. The second problem was the congressional map that was presented was determined to be gerrymandered,” wrote Steuben County Supreme Court Judge Patrick McAllister in his bombshell, 18-page decision released Thursday afternoon.
The judge also rejected the state Senate and Assembly maps in his ruling.
“We intend to appeal this decision,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James a joint statement shortly after.
The judge said lawmakers have until April 11 to present new maps and if the maps are still determined to be illegal, the court will appoint an expert to create the new maps paid for by state taxpayers.
“The judge found that they acted unconstitutionally in the process and that’s why they threw out the senate, assembly and US House maps,” said John Faso, a Republican former congressman from the Hudson Valley involved in the lawsuit.
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2022/03/31/judge-rejects-new-yorks-redistricting-plan-orders-new-maps/
