Senior Judge Lynne A. Battaglia blocked Maryland’s new congressional map Friday, finding that the plan violates the Maryland Constitution and Declaration of Rights — and unfairly favors Democrats.
Battaglia sent the redistricting plan back to the General Assembly and ordered lawmakers to come up with a new plan by next Wednesday.
In a 94-page ruling, Battaglia found that the new map violates Article III, Section 4 of the Maryland Constitution. That provision has historically been interpreted to apply to legislative districts and stipulates that “each legislative district shall consist of adjoining territory, be compact in form and of substantially equal population” and that districts respect natural boundaries and the boundaries of political subdivisions.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Bennett Leckrone over at Maryland Matters
