“Another defeat for the GOP”; “Richmond Circuit Court rules for Dems in redistricting case related to compactness”

UPDATE Monday morning – This Virginia Pilot article (“Multiple lawsuits challenge Virginia’s redistricting election. Here’s where each case stands”) is very helpful on “the status of the redistricting lawsuits” (“Republican National Committee v. Virginia Department of Elections Commissioner Steven Koski”; “Virginia House Speaker Don Scott v. Virginia Republican Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle”; “Republican National Committee v. Virginia State Board of Elections”; “Other legal challenges.“) Check it out.

UPDATE #2 Monday morning:  Definiteliy check out Heaphy: The Virginia Constitution is clear. Why the Virginia Supreme Court should uphold redistricting amendment, which argues convincingly, “The redistricting amendment is consistent with the Virginia Constitution, Supreme Court precedent and the fundamental principle that the people ultimately define the basic standards the govern our democracy.”

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This is a different case (this one’s by the Republican National Committee vs. the Virginia State Board of Elections) than the one in front of the VA Supreme Court starting tomorrow (“Virginia House Speaker Don Scott v. Virginia Republican Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle”), but still, it’s good news, as the bottom line could be what the VA Supreme Court ends up deciding. As this ruling, by Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland in the Richmond City Circuit Court concludes:

There can be no doubt that the actions of the General Assembly, and now a majority of the voting electorate, are without precedent in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The proponents claim they are restoring fairness in a national political fight. Those opposed say partisan fervor will disenfranchise millions of Virginians. Certainly, the suspension of the authority of the Virginia Redistricting Commission will have profound consequences. What those consequences are remains to be seen…

…Many a tradition and law has been laid down in the advancement of a national quest for political power, and the winds that will blow cannot yet be known. Nonetheless, this Court knows its role is clear. It is not to assess the wisdom of public policy nor to engage in policy making from the bench. Instead, it is to decide if those with whom we have entrusted power have exercised that power in conformance with their constitutional mandate. On this question, the Court’s answer is in the affirmative.

For these reasons, the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction is DENIED. It is so ORDERED.

As Democratic attorney Marc Elias puts it: “A HUGE victory for our client the DCCC and the voters of Virginia. Another defeat for the GOP.” Of course, this fight is far from over, but we’re off to a good start…

P.S. For more information on Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland (“the first openly gay jurist elected by the Virginia General Assembly”), see here.

P.P.S. I agree with Sam Shirazi on this:

“Richmond Circuit Court rules for Dems in redistricting case related to compactness. This is rare Sunday ruling and separate from Tazewell case. Basically won’t stop map based on district shapes. Ultimately VA Supreme Court will rule on redistricting issues.”

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