SCOTUS to consider Virginia redistricting suit; do GOP lawmakers have standing?
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a Virginia redistricting case challenging the state’s only congressional district with a majority-black population.
The Virginia case, Wittman v. Personhuballah, was brought by Mark Elias, the general counsel to the Clinton presidential campaign, the Washington Post reports. Funding was provided by the National Democratic Redistricting Trust. One issue in the case is whether lawmakers unconstitutionally relied on race to pack minorities into a snake-shaped district, according to the Post, the Associated Press and SCOTUSblog.
A second issue in the case is whether the eight Republican members of Congress from Virginia have standing to defend the line-drawing. None represent or live in the district at issue. The Republicans contend they have standing because the shape of the district affects the shape of all other districts in the state.
