Rep. Courtney Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decisions in Gerrymandering Cases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement after the Supreme Court handed down an opinion in Rucho v. Common Cause and Lamone v. Benisek, which deals with the constitutionality of and judicial role in partisan gerrymandering:

"The Supreme Court's opinion today on gerrymandering cases represents a complete abdication of the responsibilities the Court is charged with," said Congressman Courtney. "Justice Kagan wrote in her dissent that the Court is tasked with defending the foundations of our democracy, and that none of those foundations are of more consequence than free and fair elections. Gerrymandering erodes free and fair elections—it's an inherently partisan process that takes power away from American voters, and results in elected officials choosing their constituencies. The Court's opinion today brushes off the findings of the lower courts who heard the trial evidence in this case, and willfully ignores the reality of district drawing technology and precision that unscrupulous elected officials use to draft new voting districts and create undemocratic elections. While the court's opinion today does no service to the strengthening of our democracy, we'll continue to work in the House to oppose all attempts to degrade the integrity of our elections."

In March, Congressman Courtney helped pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which includes language that would require states to adopt independent redistricting commissions for the purpose of drawing Congressional district lines, instead of allowing politicians to pick their voters. Click here to read more.

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