Judge: NY New District Maps Gerrymandered & Unconstitutional

A lot of Republicans in New York State are celebrating while top Democrats are planning an appeal as a judge has ordered New York’s Democrat-controlled Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative districts.

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Judge Patrick McAllister said in a ruling Thursday, March 31 that maps redrawing the state’s congressional districts were gerrymandered to benefit Democrats and unconstitutional.

The state trial court judge, says the districts must be redrawn, along with the legislative districts in a way that attracted at least some bipartisan support.

The judge gave lawmakers until April 11 to try again. If their new maps fail to pass muster in the courts again, the judge said he would order the state to pay for a court-approved expert to redraw the maps.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats, issued a brief joint statement saying only: “We intend to appeal this decision.”

Republicans like Assemblyman Michael Lawler of Pearl River took an “I told you so opportunity” issuing their own statements claiming vindication of their claims of Gerrymandering of the legislative maps.