The US Supreme Court rebuffed an appeal by Michigan’s redistricting commission seeking to preserve state Legislature district lines that discriminated against Black voters in Detroit and neighboring cities.
The justices issued an unauthored decision Monday rejecting the state’s appeal, increasing the pressure on Michigan’s independent commission, which is in a rush to redraw 13 districts across state House and Senate maps by Feb. 2.
The court’s cold shoulder leaves in place a groundbreaking decision in which a three-judge federal panel for the first time found that an independent redistricting commission discriminated based on race when it drew district lines. Attorneys for the commission pushed for Black voting age population targets in Detroit and its suburbs, which in turn led to lower Black voter percentages and fewer Black candidates winning primaries.
The three-judge panel expedited the redistricting process that previously took months so that state and local officials can finalize, print, and deliver ballots in time for Michigan’s Aug. 8 primary. And to ensure the commission doesn’t drag its feet, the panel also appointed experts to draw separate maps which will be used if the state doesn’t fix its racial gerrymander.
New lines could sway power in Lansing. With an equally divided state House and a two-seat Democratic lead in the Senate, even a slight tilt toward Republicans could block Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) from pushing agenda items on abortion and renewable energy.
The case is: Michigan Indep. Citizens Redistricting Comm’n v. Agee, U.S., No. 23A641, 1/22/24.
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