Three of the five justices on the court ruled Democratic leaders in the legislature drew the 2022 congressional redistricting plan without consulting with Republicans.
The ruling also noted the legislature passed the design without even a single Republican vote in support.
New York Dems illegally drew congressional districts, appeals court rules https://t.co/fpzdKL0Vuj
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 22, 2022
As a result, there were 19 Democratic and eight Republican representatives on the 2012 congressional map. There were 22 Democratic representatives and four Republican representatives on the 2022 congressional map.
Methods Used
The ruling on Thursday was a partial success for Democrats.
The mechanism legislators utilized to implement the maps was judged to be legal by the judicial system. It also concluded the 213 legislative districts for state lawmakers were set up correctly.
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New York's Congressional, Senate, and Assembly Districts have been enjoined for 2022The New York Legislature has been ordered to submit "bipartisanly supported" maps by April 11, 2022. pic.twitter.com/cC7I8Za1Bk
— National Republican Redistricting PAC (@GOPRedistrict) March 31, 2022
According to state Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy, “we are happy the court affirmed the legislature’s process and the ability of the legislature to implement these maps.”
“The freshly drafted Senate and Assembly maps are now legitimate,” the statement reads in part.
“We were always confident the Court of Appeals would rule in our favor, and we are looking forward to having our appeal to preserve the congressional map reviewed as well.”
In comparison to a judgment given by a lower-level court in late March, this one was less broad.
A Republican state judge in the county of Steuben came to the conclusion since the specific process stipulated by a 2014 amendment to the constitution on redistricting had not been followed, the legislature never really had the right to create the boundaries.
Majority Ruling on the Matter
Each of the judges on the Appeals Court in Rochester determined this was not a factor in the case.
The majority ruling said, “we find that the New York State legislature is silent as to the effective framework to be applied in the event” the mapmaking panel fails to provide all of the needed draft plans.
In light of this, we decide the bill established by the legislature to close the gap in that procedure was not unconstitutional. We also determine that the gerrymandering maps made by the legislature as a result of the laws were not invalid.
The lower court’s March ruling to throw out the state legislative lines was based on a Republican contention. This Republican contention says the correct procedure had not been followed. As a result of this, the lines can remain in place.
Republican objections, however, were accepted by a majority of the justices on the appellate panel. The panel found the congressional boundaries were in violation of the new state constitution wording prohibiting maps designed to promote a specific political party.
Conservatives claimed the lines were gerrymandered; two of the five justices disagreed, stating it was fair to call into question “the soundness of the methodology.”
The other three judges agreed.
