Connecticut Republicans and Democrats Argue Congressional Map Case in Court
January 29, 2022 | Connecticut
The state’s Supreme Court has until Feb. 15 to render a decision on how Connecticut’s congressional district maps will be drawn.
The court heard arguments Thursday from attorneys representing Republican and Democratic members of the Reapportionment Commission, who have been unable to reach agreement on how the state’s congressional districts will be drawn.
At the crux of the arguments are maps that are to be drawn with the least amount of change from current districts, with close approximations of the number of residents in each district, and how to address the “lobster claw,” a gerrymandered district that dates back to 2001.
The court appointed Dr. Nathaniel Persily as special master, a law professor at Stanford University, to handle redistricting efforts. In a hearing Jan. 10, he urged both Republicans and Democrats to go back to the drawing board one last time. Persily also submitted two plans to the court for new maps.
On Thursday, Attorney Proloy Das, representing Republican members of the commission, argued that the commission must “draw the best and fairest map for the electorate” and it would be the only “way to fix the current gerrymandered lobster claw that defines our present map.”.. (Excerpts from the Virginia Star)
