Supreme Court To Decide On Two Redistricting Cases

One involves the Maryland’s 6th District.

 

Annapolis, Md (KM) The US Supreme Court seemed wary in taking up two redistricting cases, despite the belief they were drawn up to be too partisan. The Justices on Tuesday heard arguments about the Democrat-drawn 6th District in Maryland, and a Republican-crafted distinct in North Carolina.

Frederick County Delegate Karen Lewis Young (D) offered her thoughts on redrawing the 6th District. “There have been major population shifts. Let’s get it right, but let’s do it with good, current reliable data,” she says.

A panel appointed by the Governor has redrawn the 6th District which removes the mostly Democratic parts of Montgomery County, and brings in the mostly conservative, Republican areas of Carroll County. The rest of the district would extend from Frederick into Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties.

Delegate Mike McKay says he’s not too happy with the current makeup of the 6th District, which includes parts of Montgomery County, extending through Frederick County into far western Maryland. McKay is a Republican who represents parts of Washington and Allegany Counties. “It’s just wrong,” he said. “We need get above that, and I’m hopeful the Supreme Court will see that Maryland was wrong in what they did, especially when Governor O’Malley admitted to it.”

Former Governor Martin O’Malley redrew the 6th District in 2010 which made it more Democratic. It had been represented since 1993 by Republican Roscoe Bartlett until he was defeated in 2012 by Democrat John Delaney.

There’s no indication when or if the Supreme Court will be making a ruling on these two redistrictings.

The quotes in this story come from audio provided by WDVM-TV.

 

By Kevin McManus