On June 5, the U.S. Supreme Court summarily affirmed the lower court ruling in North Carolina v Covington, 16-649 The lower court had invalidated North Carolina’s legislative districts as an illegal racial gerrymander.
In a different phase of that same case, North Carolina v Covington, 16-1023, the U.S. Supreme Court remanded to the lower court for reconsideration of the lower court’s remedy. The lower court had said the state must redraw the districts very soon and then hold new legislative elections in 2017. The U.S. Supreme Court said that decision had not been detailed or thoughtful enough, and the U.S. Supreme Court directed the lower to again decide whether a special election is needed in 2017.
Hmmm . . . so about how long does the lower court have to make this further decision in time for a special election to be *held* in 2017, presuming that it will have to go back up the ladder of appeal?
As I understand it, the lower court will either reinstitute its ruling for a special election or drop back to ordering redistricting for 2018 — which SCOTUS has upheld.