Wis. high court overturns GOP-drawn legislative maps

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps, ordering new boundary lines be created for the state less than a year before the 2024 election.

In a 4-3 decision along ideological lines, the justices said at least 50 of the 99 Assembly districts and at least 20 of the 33 Senate districts in the map violate a mandate in the state’s constitution that requires state legislative districts be composed of “contiguous territory.” Many of the state’s districts include portions that are not attached to other parts of the same district, resulting in odd-shaped, zigzagged, gerrymandered districts.

The justices said they would give lawmakers and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, an opportunity to approve new maps, but they set the stage for the court to draw them if the Republican-controlled legislature and the governor again reach an impasse.

The justices said if it fell to them, they would choose maps that are contiguous, are compact, have equal populations and comply with state and federal laws.

In addition, the court “will take care to avoid selecting remedial maps designed to advantage one political party over another,” Justice Jill Karofsky wrote for the majority.

After Friday’s decision, the Republican leader of the Wisconsin Assembly, Speaker Robin Vos, said in a statement he believed “the case was pre-decided before it was even brought.”

“Sad day for our state when the State Supreme Court just said last year that the existing lines are constitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court will have the last word,” Vos added.

The court decision in Wisconsin could be consequential for Democrats hoping to benefit in the next vote. Republicans hold huge majorities in the state legislature because of maps that greatly favor them.

They first drew lopsided maps in 2011, when Republicans controlled state government.