CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Supreme Court of Virginia denied a request by State Attorney General Jay Jones to stay an injunction halting certification of the vote to approve a redistricting amendment to the Virginia constitution.
Tuesday’s ruling upholds the injunction issued by Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley and comes three days before the State Board of Elections is to meet Friday to certify the April 21 vote. Virginia voters narrowly passed the measure, 51.7-48.3%, in last week’s special election.
The result, if it stands, would allow Democrats to redraw Congressional voting maps ahead of November’s mid-term elections, a move they say is being pursued to counter similar redistricting moves in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio.
Republicans have filed four legal challenges to the Democrats plan, arguing that the Virginia General Assembly did not follow proper procedure in getting the amendment passed.
“This agenda item is contingent upon a final decision by the Virginia Supreme Court and is subject to removal,” according to court records.
The SCOVA ruling briefly stated about Jones’ filing, “Upon consideration whereof, the Court denies the motion.”
Hurley’s injunction came after a case was filed the day after the special election by the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and Rep. Ben Cline (R-6th), arguing the mid-decade redistricting is illegal for multiple reasons.
The injunction prevents any work being done to move toward implementation of the new map Democrats proposed, and voters approved April 21. That map, experts predict, could help Democrats gain up to four more seats in Congress.
The courts have not ruled on the merits of any cases, just the emergency orders in two of them, and the state’s high court has not set any dates for further action at this time.
