The Wisconsin Department of Justice has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a federal court's decision that invalidated the state's legislative districts.
A panel of three judges in the U.S. District Court for the Western District Court of Wisconsin struck down the state's assembly district map in November, saying the districts drawn by Republicans were unconstitutional.
Attorney General Brad Schimel argues that the basis of the lawsuit, "partisan gerrymandering," has never been adopted by the Supreme Court and cannot succeed if a legislative plan follows traditional redistricting principles, according to a press release sent by the DOJ.
“I am proud to defend Wisconsin’s law and have asked the highest court in the land to take action to protect our legislative districts,” Attorney General Brad Schimel said. “Wisconsin’s redistricting plan is so reasonable that it would pass muster under any legal test ever proposed by any Justice of the Supreme Court.”
If the Court decides to review the case, it will hear arguments during October Term 2017.
The full brief filed by the DOJ is below:
