Rucho v. Common Cause / Lamone v. Benisek (U.S. Supreme Court, 2019)

At issue in this case is partisan gerrymandering in both North Carolina and Maryland — i.e., the drawing of district lines to subordinate adherents of one political party and entrench the rival party in power. In each state, the political party in power (i.e., Republican leaders in North Carolina and Democratic leaders in Maryland) successfully created precise and durable maps that would ensure the entrenchment of that party for at least the next decade. ADL accordingly joined a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to set limits on partisan gerrymandering. Citing the foundational principles of our democracy as imagined by the Founders, the brief argues that the partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina and Maryland contravenes fundamental, long-standing American democratic values and requires a judicial response to ensure that American government will continue to operate by the consent of the people.