Statement from Rick Glazier, Executive Director of the NC Justice Center, on “disappointing” Supreme Court gerrymandering decision

RALEIGH (June 27, 2019) – It is deeply disappointing that the Supreme Court declined to overturn the extreme partisan gerrymandering of North Carolina’s congressional districts this morning. It is discouraging that the highest court in our nation would deny our state’s residents a voice in Washington; that they now use the political question doctrine as a way to avoid dealing with a political issue created by partisan, political interests; and that our redistricting system remains broken.

Fortunately, the decision still leaves open state constitutional changes under North Carolina law as it relates to legislative redistricting. Nothing bars the North Carolina Supreme Court from banning blatant partisan gerrymandering from our state elections. Ongoing litigation challenging partisan gerrymandering of our state’s voting maps should proceed with deliberate speed to finally, firmly end gerrymandering in North Carolina.