NC Supreme Court Green Lights General Assembly State Maps

RALEIGH – With the congressional redistricting redo seemingly hitting its final phase, the state legislative maps are finally official as of Friday when the N.C. Supreme Court declined to review the maps recently revamped in response to a lower state court order. The lower court had also given the maps a thumbs up. Still, the Democrats still pressed for ANOTHER redraw of eight districts, bringing the issue before the high court.

From WRAL:

“[…] Common Cause North Carolina took issue with eight of the new House districts in the map, arguing that those were still unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court declined, in an order Friday, to take that issue up. The order didn’t explain further.

Common Cause could have appealed, but Executive Director Bob Phillips said in a statement Friday afternoon that they won’t.

“We’re pleased that our landmark victory in Common Cause v. Lewis has clearly established that partisan gerrymandering is illegal in North Carolina,” Phillips said.

Candidates seeking legislative seats can start filing in those races Dec. 2. All 120 House seats and all 50 Senate seats are up for election in 2020. […]”

In addition to denying the review, the high court also denied legislators’ request to have Justice Anita Earls recuse herself from elections/redistricting cases against the General Assembly. And why should she recuse herself, she only SUED THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HERSELF IN KEY GERRYMANDERING CASES.

No matter for the state districts. The stage is set, and it features enough changes to make 2020 that much more interesting as Republicans try to fight off Democrats’ desperate incursions to protect a slim majority. Protecting that majority, though, won’t be enough if tangible conservative policy reforms are to continue in earnest. Republicans need to regain a super-majority and/or the governor’s office if the North Carolina that exists outside a few deep blue pockets is to have the kind of constitutional governance it deserves.