Here’s where we stand on the Georgia redistricting, John.
Georgia’s Republican-controlled House and Senate have now both approved a congressional map that flies in the face of a federal court order to redraw the map fairly. Instead, they chose to be even more spiteful in their redrawing of the district lines.
It’s likely that the judge will rule that this map doesn’t satisfy the requirements of his order. Then Republicans will appeal, which will put this case before the conservative 11th circuit court of appeals, and eventually the Supreme Court.
Now, let’s imagine a scenario in which Democrats have solid majorities in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate with President Biden in the White House…
I, as Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, would work with House leadership to advance my court reform package to expand the court and impose term limits in order to protect the voting rights of EVERY American. We would enact rules for the Supreme Court that would enhance accountability, and it would be harder for ultraconservative justices like Thomas and Alito to entrench their insincere and partisan legal reasoning.
I’d feel A LOT better about that hypothetical Court — held to account by the people — ruling on GA Republicans’ sham redistricting plan than I would the current GOP-captured Court.
This case could decide whether millions of Georgia voters are represented proportionally or are unfairly disenfranchised. That’s why court reform is so important. And that’s one of the big reasons it’s so important that we elect Democrats to the White House and Congress. And that, in turn, comes full circle back to election results.
It’s all connected, John, and the first step to making things right is to do everything possible in the coming year to elect leaders who will safeguard our democracy, not chip away at it. Will you pitch in to help us do exactly that in Georgia, so that I can advance my court reform plan and put safeguards in place for our democracy?
Thank you, John. It’s heartening that we’re in this together and can count on each other.
Hank Johnson
he/him
