The federal three-judge panel, which ruled 13 Metro Detroit State House and Senate seats violate the constitution and need to be redrawn, refused a request for a stay from the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
It means the redrawing process will continue while the commission appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. There is no guarantee the high court will hear the appeal.
The judges appear ready to appoint a special master to oversee the redraw, potentially two of them.
In court, the judges made it clear they didn’t have high confidence in the commission’s ability to do the job.
The consortium of Detroit Democrats who sued over those maps and won are pleased with Friday’s (Jan. 5) decision.
“I’m very grateful the judges continue to delineate and talk line by line about the myriad of issues that exist with this dysfunctional and defiant commission,” said former State Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo.
The court has yet to appoint a special master but is reviewing names.
Plaintiff Natalie Bien-Aime told Local 4 she’s pleased with Friday’s court decision and has high hopes for the new maps.
“My hope is they will be fair and equitable and really speak to the citizenry here in Detroit and the state to say black leadership matters.”
More: Metro Detroit voting maps ordered to be redrawn: What happens next?