New York's highest court has rejected new congressional maps that had widely been seen as favoring Democrats. The Court of Appeals agreed with a group of Republican voters who say the district boundaries had been unconstitutionally gerrymandered and that the Legislature didn't follow proper procedure in passing the maps.
A trial court ruling that declared New York's new congressional and legislative district maps unconstitutional was temporarily stayed by a state appeals court judge Monday. The interim order from state Appellate Division Justice Stephen K. Lindley is in effect until Thursday, when oral arguments in the case are scheduled. Another decision on whether to extend the stay is expected later that day. The order comes four days after a trial court judge in Steuben County threw the state's primary season in turmoil by ruling the state's districts were illegally gerrymandered to benefit Democrats.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders moved quickly to appeal a trial court judge's ruling that declared the state's new congressional and legislative district maps unconstitutional. Judge Patrick McAllister threw New York's primary season in turmoil Thursday by ruling the districts were illegally gerrymandered to benefit Democrats.