Cole County judge denies voters’ claims in redistricting lawsuit
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Cole County judge has ruled in favor of the state in a lawsuit challenging the newly drawn congressional maps under House Bill 1.
A group of voters sued the Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in September, arguing redistricting can only occur after a census. A bench trial was held on Nov. 12.
Judge Christopher Limbaugh denied the plaintiffs' claims and request for relief.
"Ultimately, the legislature has the plenary authority to enact laws except as expressly prohibited," Limbaugh wrote in his decision. "Therefore, in this case, in the absence of an express prohibition, the legislature had the plenary authority to enact House Bill 1, the second redistricting legislation."
The group of voters argued that a previous case, Pearson v. Koster, and the language of Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution, do not allow for congressional redistricting by the Missouri Legislature to take place mid-decade.
Limbaugh wrote in his ruling that the argument under Pearson is irrelevant. He added that there is no restrictive language in the specific part of the Missouri Constitution that restricts redistricting.
Attorney for the plaintiffs, Chuck Hatfield, told ABC 17 News in November he expects the lawsuit to end up in the Missouri Supreme Court.
Hatfield is also the attorney for People Not Politicians, the group fighting the maps in court. On Tuesday, the group submitted 600 boxes of signatures to the Secretary of State's office.
ABC 17 News has reached out to Hatfield for comment.
