Court Orders SE Michigan Redistricting Maps be Redrawn
State Legislative Maps
On December 21, 2023, the Western Federal District Court ruled that maps for the following Districts were unconstitutional under the U.S. Fourteenth Amendment (Equal Protection Clause): State House Districts 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 14; and State Senate Districts 1, 3, 6, 8, 10 and 11 because the MICRC had used race as a primary factor in drawing the maps for these districts.
On January 11, 2024 the Court issued a Scheduling Order for redrawing the unconstitutional House district maps. Since redrawing the boundaries of these districts will affect boundaries of other districts, lines for these other districts may be redrawn as “reasonably necessary.”
The MICRC submitted their draft redrawn House maps to the Court by the deadline of February 2, 2024. An in-person Public Hearing on the draft maps will be held in Detroit on February 15. Times and place will be posted on the MICRC website, Michigan.gov/MICRC.
Public comments may also be submitted through the MICRC portal at Michigan-mapping.org. In addition to comments on the MICRC’s draft maps, the public may submit their own maps and/or maps showing their Community of Interest.
The MICRC must submit their final maps to the Court no later than March 1, 2024. Alternative maps drawn by the Court appointed Mapping Special Master are also due to the Court by March 1, 2024.
Since the next election for the State Senate isn’t until November 2026, the new maps for the unconstitutional Senate Districts will be re-drawn after April 12, 2024.
New Voting Rights Act (VRA) Consultant Appointed
The Commission’s previous VRA Consultant, attorney Bruce Adelson, resigned December 23, 2023. The Court accepted, with some conditions, the MICRC’s appointment of Mark Braden (who is an employee of Baker-Hostetler, the Commission’s litigation firm) as the MICRC’s new VRA Consultant .
Court Appointed Special Masters
The Court appointed two Special Masters: a Mapping Special Master and a Reviewing Special Master. The Mapping Special Master will draw alternative maps for the unconstitutional House Districts. The Court will consider the alternative maps only if the MICRC does not submit appropriate final maps by March 1.
The Reviewing Special Master will review the MICRC maps and, if necessary, those drawn by the Mapping Special Master.
The MICRC must cover the costs of both Special Masters and their staff. The Commission will be asking the Legislature for another $3 million to cover these costs as well as other litigation costs.
MICRC Mapping Meetings, January 16-February 1, 2024
The Commission scheduled 3 weeks of meetings to draw draft House maps. The first week, January 16-18, was virtual. The second week, January 22-26 was in-person in Detroit and the third week was virtual. The schedule of meetings is posted on the MICRC website, michigan.gov/MICRC.
Commission Has Three New Members
Three Commissioners resigned on December 31, 2023: Doug Clark (R), MC Rothhorn (D) and Dustin Witjes (D). A random drawing was held on January 3, 2024 as prescribed by the Michigan Constitution. Two Democrats were drawn from a pool of 52 Democrats: Elaine Andrade from Imlay City and Donna Callaghan from Farmington Hills. One Republican was drawn from a pool of 54 Republicans: Marcus Muldoon from Lincoln Park.
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We thank Susan Smith, LWVMI Redistricting Chair for this update on the MICRC.