MADISON- Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel filed a brief this week asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block the federal court order which requires the Wisconsin Legislature to draw fairer district maps later this year. Three federal judges ruled late last year that Republican legislators in Wisconsin had rigged elections in Wisconsin by drawing district maps that unconstitutionally guaranteed large Republican wins even when Democrats won majorities of the vote.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:
On Monday, Schimel asked the high court to block the requirement to develop new maps by Nov. 1, contending legislators should not have to draw new lines unless the Supreme Court agrees with the three-judge panel that the existing maps are unconstitutional.
“Wisconsin should not be required to invest the considerable time, effort and taxpayer resources required to redraw district maps, especially when the case is likely to be reversed,” Schimel said in a statement.
Sachin Chheda, a spokesman for the Fair Elections Project that has backed the lawsuit, said the Supreme Court should let the ruling stand so neutral maps can be drawn well before the fall 2018 elections.
“These guys will go to the ends of the earth to defend their unfair maps,” Chheda said.
Read more from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
