The Latest: Supreme Court hears Wisconsin redistricting case

Updated: October 4, 2017

WASHINGTON (CBS 58) – The Supreme Court is reviewing a case about partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin. At issue are the legislative maps in the state that democrats say were drawn to benefit republicans.

CBS 58’s Brendan Cullerton was the only Milwaukee reporter watching the arguments at the Supreme Court and says the justices are deeply divided, with Justice Anthony Kennedy the key vote.

At one point, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg worried about the incentive to vote in a district that’s redrawn for political benefit.

The conservative justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts indicated that courts should not get involved in issues that should be handled by political branches.

“The one thing that we heard that nobody disputed inside is that gerrymandering and map rigging and taking people’s vote away suppresses democracy,” says Sachin Chheda who helped launch the case against Wisconsin.

“The court is very reluctant to step into the constitutional role of the political branches and I’m thrilled to see that concern reiterated today by a wide variety of the justices,” says Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel.

All the arguments were essentially for one man - Justice Anthony Kennedy - who is expected to swing the vote 5-4 one way or the other. The court is expected to make a decision by the end of the year. 

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Posted: October 3, 2017

WASHINGTON (CBS 58) – The nation’s eyes are on the Wisconsin Legislature Tuesday as the state defended itself in the U.S. Supreme Court.

CBS 58’s Brendan Cullerton breaks down how the Wisconsin case could reshape the nation’s politics.

There was plenty of national attention on the Supreme Court Tuesday as Arnold Schwarzenegger came out and called for the end of gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing legislative districts in a way that organizes voters to give one party a systematic advantage.

A federal court ruled Wisconsin republicans went too far and ordered them to change the maps. But, the case got appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court and some justices are concerned about putting constitutional powers given to legislatures into the court’s hand.

Schwarzenegger says gerrymandering is undemocratic.

“The politicians are picking the voters, rather than the voters picking the politicians. So I say this time to say hasta la vista to gerrymandering. And it’s time to terminate gerrymandering,” said Schwarzenegger.

If the court rules in favor of the democrats suing Wisconsin, Congressional and state maps across the country could be overhauled.

Brendan will be gathering reaction from the Wisconsin delegation in Washington throughout the day. Look for his live reports on all our newscasts.