(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/27/2024) A federal judicial panel said Wednesday it has “no basis to reject” the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission’s replacement state House plan -- known as Motown Sounds -- which means the new maps will be used for the 2024 House elections.
The panel – Judges Raymond Kethledge, Paul Maloney and Janet Neff – overruled objections from the Black Detroiters who successfully tossed the original maps from 2021 and who argued the replacements were still “not acceptable” because they “gerrymandered to ensure that no incumbents must face each other.”
The plaintiffs, led by Donald Agee, argued Christopher Gilmer-Hill, a Democratic precinct delegate with ties to Metro Detroit Democratic Socialists of America, created the adopted map in secret.
The federal panel acknowledged Gilmer-Hill provided commentary and suggestions that were partly adopted.
“But that hardly means – as the plaintiffs allege – that the commission ‘outsourced’ its map-drawing function to Gilmer-Hill,” the panel’s 11-page decision reads. “On the record before us here, rather, that allegation is hyperbole.”
The MICRC celebrated Wednesday’s decision in a statement from Executive Director Edward Woods III, who said, “Despite doubts and concerns raised, the Commission demonstrated once again that it could focus on its purpose to draw fair maps with citizen input. We appreciate the public input that overwhelmingly favored the Motown Sound FC E1 in making our job easier. We now have a clear road map to follow in completing the remedial State Senate plan.”
Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a former Detroit state lawmaker who has been a spokesperson for the plaintiffs, said their expert concluded the new map “does not provide the greatest number of black majority seats with the highest black voting age population,” but they are embracing the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “the Arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Gay-Dagnogo added: “We applaud the dedication of our plaintiffs, and our Clark Hill counsel for championing victory for the Agee v. Benson lawsuit, along with our countless allies.”
The panel ruled in December the original maps were drawn with race as a predominating factor in violation of the U.S. Constitution and ordered redrawing of House Districts 1,7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 14 as well as Senate Districts 1, 3, 6, 8, 10 and 11.
The 13-member MICRC met earlier this year to redraw the maps and gather public feedback before adopting the Motown Sound E1 map on a 10-3 vote after two rounds of voting. The map changed House Districts 1-14 and made a minor change to District 16. All districts are overwhelmingly Democratic except for the new District 13 -- made up of parts of Warren, St. Clair Shores and Rosveille -- which will be a 55.4% Democratic district.
The judges concluded the map shows no violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in a statement the DLCC has “a strong path” for maintaining Democratic control in 2024.
“Michigan will continue to be a shining example of the important work Democrats accomplish in state Legislatures and holding the House is one of our top priorities for November,” she said.
Now What?
The Michigan Bureau of Elections will update the state voter file to reflect the new district lines.
The three-judge panel also will set a schedule for redrawing the Senate map. State Senate elections do not occur until 2026.
Meanwhile, the MICRC’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court (Case No. 23A749) remains pending and a decision could determine whether the Motown Sound plan remains in effect for 10 years or if it could undergo additional changes.
Woods said during an early evening press conference that the MICRC will likely discuss whether to withdraw its appeal at its April meeting.
