Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of a Republican-backed congressional map on Monday, saying for the upcoming midterm elections that Missouri should use the newly drawn maps, which "complies with the Constitution and federal law." In the ruling, the panel of three judges said in part, "This Court holds that Missouri’s current plan to use the 2022 map in the November 2026 general election violates the Constitution. Only use of the 2025 map complies with the Constitution and federal law. We affirm the district court and remand for entry of a permanent injunction." The decision was made by Judge James B.
Loken, nominated by Republican President George H.W. Stras, nominated by President Donald Trump, and Judge Justin D. Smith, also nominated by Trump.
The Supreme Court earlier this month granted an emergency appeal blocking the new redistricting map that would reshape Missouri's eight House districts. This ruling also came days after Justice Brett Kavanaugh declined to hear an emergency appeal on the case. According to the appellate panel's ruling, the judges urged the lower court to administer a stay for one week until 5 p.m.
"Without any stay, Secretary [of State Denny] Hoskins and local election authorities would be required to immediately begin implementing the 2025 map before the Supreme Court receives or decides any appeal." Newsweek reached out to the Supreme Court via email on Monday for comment. Stras said that he dissented in part with the decision, saying in the document in part, "There are multiple problems with this appeal. The court names one: a probable violation of Article I, section 2 of the Constitution as interpreted." The judge later added, "But I would not even get that far because People Not Politicians and Richard von Glahn lack standing.
For that reason, I would dismiss the appeal." Following the 8th Circuit's decision, District Judge Stephen Clark in the Eastern District of Missouri entered a permanent injunction, ultimately blocking Hoskins or the secretary's agents, officers and employees from implementing a map other than the one from 2025. The legal wrangling has elicited uncertainty and confusion over which map voters will receive and vote on in the upcoming midterms. People Not Politicians had successfully challenged Missouri's new map, which has been celebrated by Trump, in state court and initiated the second appeal to the U.S.
In a previous statement to Newsweek after the High Court's ruling earlier this month, von Glahn, group executive director, said, "The law is the law, the Missouri constitution is clear as was the Missouri Supreme Court. Over 305,000 Missouri voters—Republicans, Democrats and Independents took action to block this political power grab last fall. People, not politicians, will have the final say when they vote NO on Proposition A this November." Democratic Congressman Christian Menefee of Texas also reacted to the panel's decision on Monday, saying on X, "This is outrageous.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
