The state Supreme Court’s Appellate Division in Rochester heard oral arguments from lawyers representing Democrat and Republican state lawmakers on Wednesday, April 20, according to Albany Times-Union. The issue of potentially redrawing district maps will ultimately be addressed by the state Court of Appeals.
Related: Judge throws out Democrat-drawn redistricting maps, appeal to follow
Will current district maps be redrawn?
The future of the Democrat-drawn district maps will be decided by the state Court of Appeals. New York’s highest court may hear arguments next week to determine whether new maps need to be drawn and if primary elections- currently set for June 28- need to be pushed to August.
Republicans have argued the maps are unconstitutional because 1) the Legislature did not have the legal authority to drawn maps after the state’s Independent Redistricting Committee failed to reach consensus and 2) the maps were gerrymandered to give Democrats a political advantage.
Lawyers for Democratic legislators argued the Legislature did in fact have the authority to draw new maps and that they were not gerrymandered. If the current maps are approved, they are likely to give Democrats an advantage in congressional elections.
Related: NYSIRC fails to reach consensus, redistricting falls on Democrats
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