Friday, August 10, 2012

Judge Orders Maryland Redistricting Challenge To Be Placed On November Ballot // GOP One Step Closer to Referendum

Maryland Juice just received word that the Democratic Party's attempt to stop the State's Congressional districts from being subjected to a November referendum has failed. We previously reported that the Dems were filing a lawsuit against numerous aspects of the GOP petition drive against Governor Martin O'Malley's redistricting plan. Their legal challenge included several arguments, including an allegation that the online signatures gathered for the petition were invalid.

The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, however, has deemed the petition sufficient. It appears that an appeal may be pending, but for now, the GOP redistricting referendum is one step closer to the November ballot. See the Judge's order below (Hat tip: redistricting activist Howard Gorrell):
File Date:    08/10/2012Close Date:08/10/2012Decision:
Document Name:    Order and Declaratory Judgment

ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is Denied; Defendant's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment is Granted; & Intervenor's Cross Motion to Dismiss and for Summary Judgment is GRANTED in part as it pertains to the sufficiency of the petition to refer Senate Bill 1, Chapter 1 of the 2011 Special Session of the General Assembly & Denied in part as it pertains to standing of Plaintiff's Dennis Whitley III, Anne Neal, Karren Jo Pope-Onwuke, Joanna Hanes-Lahr, & Matthew Thomas; and it is further Ordered, that the petition submitted to the Maryland State Board of Elections to refer Senate Bill 1, Chapter 1,of the 2011 Special Session of the General Assembly, is legally sufficient to refer the laws to the voters under Article XVI of the Maryland Constitution; and it is further Ordered, that Senate Bill 1, Chapter 1 of the 2011 Special Session of the General Assembly shall be placed on the November 2012 General Election Ballot; and it is further Ordered, that any and all other requests for relief and DENIED (Copies e-mailed from Judge Silkworth's Chambers)

More on the Maryland redistricting referendum soon!

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