Always happy to have this happen, but it won’t be in time for 2014:
A Florida Circut County Court has struck down the state’s congressional map and ordered a redrawing of district lines.
In his 41-page ruling issued Thursday evening, Judge Terry Lewis writes that the map drawn by the GOP-controlled legislature for the 2012 elections violated the state constitution’s Fair Districts Amendments, specifically in regard to the Rep. Corrine Brown’s (D) Jacksonville-based 5th District and Rep. Daniel Webster’s (R) Orlando-area 10th District.
Passed by voters in 2010, the amendment prohibited state legislators from drawing new congressional lines to benefit one party or to protect incumbents. Democrats charged that GOP state legislators disregarded those new rules when drawing the new map after Florida picked up two additional districts in reapportionment.
The decision is certain to be appealed, and even many Democrats, who cheered the ruling, are doubtful that any redrawing could be implemented quickly enough for the 2014 elections. The state’s filing period has already closed ahead of the August 26 primary elections. The judge has yet to order actions going forward to correct the map.
Thanks to Ed Tayter.
The voters of Florida were well aware that their elected representatives would never follow this law. So they had their ‘to be filed’ lawsuits already in hand. The people aren’t stupid. They sometimes act stupidly, but they aren’t entirely brain dead. Our elected politicians do not give power up without a fight. But in the end and sooner or later it’s “All Power to the People.”