On December 8, U.S. District Court Judge Zachary M. Bluestone, a Trump appointee, dismissed Missouri General Assembly v Glahn, e.d., 4:25cv-1535. This is the lawsuit that the state legislature had filed to stop the referendum petition involving new U.S. House district boundaries. Here is his opinion.

The state legislature had argued that the U.S. Constitution does not allow referenda or initiatives to be used to change election laws that relate to congressional elections. Some people read Article One to say that only legislatures can pass or alter election laws dealing with congressional elections. The judge said the case is not ripe. The petition is still being circulated. After it has been circulated and the signatures verified, then the issue could return to court.

The opinion has an interesting footnote one, listing the six cases pending in state court over the law that changes U.S. House district boundaries.