Besinek v. Lamone

Republican voters challenged Maryland's 2011 redesign of the Sixth Congressional District, saying it was redrawn to punish them for their political views and weaken their voting power. In a June 18, 2018 per curiam decision, the Supreme Court said the retaliation claim was substantial and should be heard by a three-judge district court.

The Court issued a per curiam decision on June 18, 2018, after argument on March 28, 2018. The prompt does not provide a vote count or opinion lineup.

“the plaintiffs’ retaliation claim is a substantial one, required to be heard by a three-judge district court”

The case matters because it deals with what voters must show to prove a partisan map injured them under the First Amendment. That affects people trying to challenge congressional maps, as well as state officials defending those maps.

The Supreme Court has finished its work on this docket entry. Any further litigation over the map had to continue in the lower court, including before a three-judge district court.

Republican voters said Maryland redrew one congressional district to retaliate against them for supporting Republican candidates. The case asked what injury and causation they had to prove.

It could affect how hard it is for voters to challenge a partisan district map in federal court. That matters in states where one party redraws lines to weaken the other side.

The Supreme Court's docket action was finished. Further proceedings, if any, had to continue in the lower court before a three-judge district court.