Liberal law firm preparing new redistricting challenge

 

MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- A liberal law firm is gearing up to take on the issue of redistricting, again.

Now that liberals will soon have a 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court, Law Forward is preparing to challenge the state's current district lines, arguing they violate the Wisconsin Constitution.

Nicole Safar, the executive director of Law Forward, said instead of relitigating a lawsuit to the current legislative and congressional maps that favor Republicans, they plan to bring forth a new legal challenge for justices to grapple with.

"It will be an opportunity to repair some of the damage that's been done," Safar said, speaking to the maps that have been characterized as among the most gerrymandered in the country.

The chance for liberals to reshape voting maps comes after Janet Protasiewicz secured a spot on the Supreme Court after defeating her rival, Dan Kelly, by 11 points Tuesday. Her victory marks the first time in 15 years liberals will be in the majority on the court.

Safar said they have not written any briefs yet but said to expect some action filed by late summer or early fall, which will be soon after Protasiewicz is sworn into office on Aug. 1.

When asked what the scope of the suit will be, Safar said they are still working on those details but shared the framing will be about "Wisconsin voters who have suffered and are suffering a constitutional injury to their right to vote."

The state Supreme Court is an arena Law Forward is familiar with and Safar suggested they might revisit some voting laws, such as a ban on absentee ballot drop boxes.

However, when it comes to Republican-led policies, right to work, voter ID laws, Act 10), Safar prefers those issues to be resolved through the Legislature with the hopes of having more fair maps in the future.

"Litigation is not the answer to every policy problem that we have and once we have a legislature that is more willing to have debates, compromise and discussions, a lot of these policy issues are going to be resolved in a more functional and healthy way," she said.