SCOTX Sets Oral Argument in Redistricting Case

The Texas Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Abbott v. Mexican American Legislative Caucus (No. 22-0008) on March 23 at 9 a.m. MALC, Senators Gutierrez and Eckhardt, Rueben Cortez, Jr., and Tejano Democrats filed suit in Travis County challenging the constitutionality of the House and Senate maps under the county-line rule. State redistricting challenges now go to a special three-judge panel under a law enacted by the Legislature three sessions ago. The panel is sitting in the 250th District Court of Travis County before Presiding Judges Karin Crump (Judge, 250th District Court), Ken Wise (Justice, 14th District Court of Appeals), and Emily Miskel (Judge, 470th District Court). Trial was slated to begin on January 10, but the state has taken a direct appeal to SCOTX to resolve jurisdictional issues. MALC, et al. are not asking the court to delay this year’s election but only to resolve the constitutional challenge prior to the 2023 regular session.