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Leading Organizations Ask the U.S. Supreme Court to Provide Fairer, More
Competitive Elections
In the 2003-2004 term, the
U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating on Veith v. Jubelirer, a case
involving congressional redistricting in Pennsylvania.
On August 28, 2003,
several leading pro-democracy organizations filed "friend of the
court" amicus briefs urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike-down
current redistricting practices that have led to extreme partisan
gerrymandering and a remarkable rise in noncompetitive congressional
elections. Other briefs were filed in response, including a brief of
amici curiae leadership of the Alabama Senate and House of
Representatives in support of the appellees. The case was argued
before the U.S. Supreme Court on December 10,
2003. (We have made a pdf file of the oral argument.)
These are among the most important briefs in support of
the appellants, along with the appellants' brief.
Amicus Brief
from the Center for Voting
and Democracy, Public Citizen, Democracy 21 and Common Cause --
Focused on problem of bipartisan gerrymandering to create safe
seats.
Amicus Brief from the DKT Liberty
Project
-- Focused on the
potential of full representation voting methods.
Amicus Brief from Reform
Institute
-- Focused on promoting more competitive
elections.
Amicus Brief from Brennan
Center and ACLU
-- Focused on the importance of
cracking down on abusive partisan gerrymanders.
Amicus of the Center for Research into Governmental
Processes, Inc., as Amicus Curiaw in Support of
Appellants -- Focused
on the case for government impartiality in
redistricting.
Brief for
Appellants -- Calls for the courts to reject the current
Pennsylvania congressional redistricting plan as a partisan
gerrymander.
Below is an important amicus
brief in support of the appellees:
Amicus Brief from the Alabama
Senate and House Leadership -- Focused on threats to
representation of the interests of people of color by proposed
partisan gerrymander standars.
For additional amicus briefs and documents, see Jenner and Block's
webpage
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