Judge Robert J. Thompson blocks Maryland redistricting amendment from November ballot pending appeal

Judge Robert J. Thompson ruled on Wednesday that a proposed constitutional amendment regarding Maryland's congressional redistricting cannot appear on the November ballot. The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by Republicans, including Mike Howell, who argued that the Democratic-led General Assembly violated its own established deadlines for submitting ballot questions. While Democrats pushed the amendment through a special session to remove the requirement that congressional districts be compact and contiguous, the court found the enactment of the bill to be legally deficient because the legislature did not follow its own laws. Judge Robert J. Thompson also described the ballot question's wording as "intentionally misleading." Governor Wes Moore and Senate President Bill Ferguson expressed confidence that the amendment will survive the appeal to the Maryland Supreme Court. Conversely, Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey and House Del. Matt Morgan praised the ruling as a victory for the rule of law, noting that a supermajority does not grant a legislature the right to ignore its own rules.

Sources

• The Hill
  Judge blocks Democrats’ redistricting push in Maryland
• The New York Times
  Maryland Judge Blocks Democratic Redistricting Measure
• WYPR
  Maryland judge blocks redistricting amendment from November ballot, state Supreme Court will have final say
• Politico
  Maryland judge blocks Democrats’ redistricting effort
• WBAL-TV
  Judge blocks redistricting question from ballot pending appeal