ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Prosecutors are scheduled to appear before a three-judge hearing panel on Thursday as state officials seek to dismiss a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's electoral districting, WLOS reports.
The lawsuit, Byrd v. North Carolina State Board of Elections, argues that North Carolinians have a right to free and fair elections and that current district maps violate those rights.
Former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr is one of the lawyers who filed the “Fair Elections” lawsuit against state lawmakers and the North Carolina State Election Commission, according to WLOS.
[ ALSO READ: NC Supreme Court reverses rulings on district maps, voter IDs ]
“The argument of the legislative defendants is that this is a political issue and therefore an issue that cannot be adjudicated. The ideal solution would be to not use political data, election results and all the factors that allow politicians to pick the most favorable voters for their districts,” Oh said. “So there are different criteria, some of which are mandatory, some of which are like good practice: compactness of the district, continuity of the geographic area, etc.”
“Although this lawsuit is unlikely to be successful in the short term, that doesn't mean it's not important,” said Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. “Redistricting fights will continue, and making this argument now could be powerful in the future.”
A hearing on the legislative defendants' motion to dismiss is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, June 13, in Wake County Superior Court at Campbell University School of Law, according to WLOS.
Video: North Carolina Supreme Court overturns ruling on electoral district maps and voter ID
This browser does not support the video element.