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Supreme Court justices focus on ‘tests’ in gerrymandering case affecting 6th District

March 26th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Herald Mail reports much of Tuesday's discussion before the U.S. Supreme Court about two high-profile partisan gerrymandering cases — including one involving Maryland's 6th District — centered on specific "tests" to prove congressional districts were drawn in an unconstitutional manner.

In the 6th District, which includes Washington County, the plaintiffs have alleged that the boundaries violate Republicans' First Amendment rights by diluting their votes and preventing them from electing their preferred representative to Congress.

Attorney Michael B. Kimberly argued that GOP voters in the district were "singled out" by Democrats who have admitted the redistricting ahead of the 2012 election was done to help a Democrat win the seat. That left the Republicans "doomed to usual defeat" year after year, he said.

 

"We think that is a clear violation of the First Amendment," he told the justices.

Kimberly said they want a neutrally redrawn map in which the legislature doesn’t burden specific voter blocs.

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh last fall appealed the ruling of a lower federal court that nullified the current congressional map, prompting a second round of arguments before the Supreme Court.

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