The verdict is in! In the case of Florida Congressional Redistricting, Leon County Judge Terry Lewis has set September 24, 2015, as the date he will begin hearing arguments from the various parties involved in drawing up redistricting maps. At least four different maps may be presented to the Trial court, including separate maps from the Florida House, the Florida Senate, a coalition of voting-rights groups (including the League of Women Voters) and another group of voters. The various parties have until this Monday to submit their proposed maps.
In his ruling, Judge Lewis is requiring anyone submitting a map to offer up details regarding the actual crafting of their plans. Attorneys for legislators and the various groups differed in their opinion of this rule, with the the legislators attorney generally supporting the ruling, and the attorney for some of the groups opposing it. However, the League of Women Voters and Common Cause Florida have agreed to disclose who helped draw up maps they will be submitting.
This redistricting battle, started in 2010 after Florida voters approved an anti-gerrymandering amendment known as “Fair Districts”, has been on-going ever since, with various maps drawn up in 2012 that were later ruled to violate the intent of the Amendment. Following a special session earlier this summer that dissolved into chaos and accusations between the two Houses of the State Legislature, and lawsuits filed by various voting groups, the Florida Supreme Court has apparently lost its patience and ordered the trial that will begin September 24. Plenty will be said between now and the time trial starts, for sure, but perhaps this will be the last volley in an on-going battle that has threatened to divide the State.