Justices elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2024 will be the ones who decide any challenges to the novel maps if Ohio voters adopt proposed anti-gerrymander Amendment 1 in November.
Although Ohioans will vote on issue 1which, if approved, would exclude politicians from redistricting, it’s possible redistricting will once again come before the state’s highest court.
“The maps, no matter who drew them, are certainly subject to challenge, and for violating provisions of the Ohio Constitution,” said University of Cincinnati political science professor David Niven. “So we’re not done, no matter what happens with the first release. … There are still dissatisfied political actors who are going to the courts in some cases, challenging the process.”
Redistricting and previous Supreme Court rulings
Redistricting is currently handled through the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which includes the governor, secretary of state, state auditor and four legislative leaders (two from each party). In 2015 71% of Ohioans voted in favor of amending the constitution to establish a non-party commission for the redistricting of electoral districts in 2021.
Six different Statehouse and two Congressional district maps have gone through the current redistricting process. The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that five Statehouse maps are unconstitutional gerrymandered and both congressional maps were rejected as unconstitutional.
A federal court ordered Ohio voters to utilize the last of the skewed Statehouse maps in 2022 because the commission ran out of time to draw a constitutionally approved map. State legislators are currently occupying these districts.
Republican former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who served on the state’s highest court from 2003 to 2022, spoke about it in ad number 1.
“Professional politicians have so blatantly manipulated our electoral district maps seven times that the Ohio Supreme Court has found the maps unconstitutional. Seven times,” she said in the ad. “The first edition prohibits politicians from drawing voting maps. “It will put power back where it belongs, with citizens, not politicians.”
The non-partisan coalition “Citizens, not politicians” is behind the proposed change to the constitution. Number 1 would be formed Ohio’s 15-member Citizens’ Redistricting Commission, made up of Republicans, Democrats and independents. It would bar current or former politicians, political party officials, lobbyists and immense political donors from serving on the commission.
Ohio Supreme Court Races
Republicans currently have a 4-3 majority on the Ohio Supreme Court. Depending on the election results, Democrats could flip the court and Republicans could tighten their grip.
“The makeup of the court makes a huge difference,” said Common Cause Ohio Executive Director Catherine Turcer. “Will these people who will be on the court look at the new districts in terms of what is written in the Ohio Constitution and what is actually good for Ohio voters, or will they be influenced by partisan interests?”
Ohio Republican lawmakers have added party labels to previously nonpartisan Ohio Supreme Court races starting in 2022.
Incumbent Democratic Judge Michael P. Donnelly was challenged by Republican Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan.
Incumbent Democratic Judge Melody Stewart is being challenged by incumbent Republican Judge Joseph Deters, who chose not to run for his current seat and instead chose to run against Stewart.
Democratic candidate Lisa Forbes of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and Republican candidate Dan Hawkins of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas are vying for Deters’ open seat.
Deters recently spoke briefly about redistricting on a right-wing radio show in Cleveland.
(*1*) he further added Closely speaking to Bob Frantz.
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