On February 23, the federal court that is hearing the North Carolina U.S. House redistricting lawsuit gave the plaintiffs time to file objections to the new plan drawn up by the legislature recently. The brief of the plaintiffs is due February 29. The state’s response is due by March 7, and the reply brief is due March 9. Harris v McCrory, m.d., 1:13cv-949.
If the plaintiffs persuade the 3 judges that the new plan is deficient, then it is likely the judges will prepare their own plan. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
The plaintiffs had requested that both parties file by February 26, with a response by March 4, and hearings on March 11 on the state’s plan, and on March 18 to establish a procedure for imposing a plan by the federal district court.
The district court gave the plaintiffs until February 29 to file objections, and March 7 for the state response.
In effect, the plaintiffs had asked the court to make the parties equal and require the state to justify its map.
The court instead requires the plaintiffs to explain what they don’t like about the plan, with the state afforded an opportunity to respond. IOW, there is a presumption that the state-drawn plan is constitutional.