Conflicting Fed Rulings Spark Missouri Redistricing Hot Mess

We eagerly await the opinion of Internets constitutional scholars on this case given that . . .

MISSOURI WILL NOW MAKE UP ELECTION LAW FOR ITSELF AFTER DUELING FEDERAL RULINGS!!!

Missouri Republicans will likely proceed with their agenda by way of last minute legal maneuvers and election shenanigans that seem more focused on retaining power than serving the will of the voters. 

Consequently . . .  

We playfully submit to our Republican friends that it's impossible to celebrate the success of so much election scheming without acknowledging the aforementioned midterm chicanery. 

Bright side: There's always a chance that this effort might backfire the way it did in Kansas.  

Here are the words that stand out to us . . . 

"Justice Brett Kavanaugh turned down a Republican-backed emergency appeal that sought to block a Missouri Supreme Court ruling last week restoring earlier district lines and ordering that voters to weigh in on the redistricting plan in November for use in future elections.

"However, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Clark, in a decision made public within minutes of Kavanaugh’s ruling, issued a temporary restraining order that effectively set aside the state Supreme Court’s decision and granted Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ request to move forward with the plan likely to elect a Republican in one of the state’s two districts currently held by Democrats."

HOWEVER . . .

This is also important . . . 

 Justice Brett Kavanaugh declined to stay a unanimous ruling made by the state’s highest court last Thursday that sided with citizen-led petitioners, ordering that voters use maps drawn in 2022 instead of the “Missouri First” map passed by the state legislature in 2025. 

Punchline . . .

State officials including Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins stated they intend to follow the federal district judge's order to use the 2025 map, leaving the final boundaries in severe legal limbo right as ballots face state deadlines. 

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Missouri's redistricting in flux after dissonant court rulings

A Supreme Court justice rejected a bid to revive Missouri's pro-GOP redistricting before midterms, but a federal judge practically simultaneously gave the state the OK to continue with the plan.

Missouri's redistricting fight in turmoil as U.S. Supreme Court and federal orders clash

U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark's last-minute order temporarily prevents Secretary of State Denny Hoskins from using any map other than the one passed in 2025 - a move that will almost certainly be appealed.

UPDATE: Statements from Kehoe, Hanaway, and Hoskins Statement from Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe

Federal courts conflict on GOP effort to revive gerrymandered Missouri congressional map * Missouri Independent

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh rejected Missouri Republicans appeal to salvage a congressional district map favoring the GOP.

Conflicting court rulings leave Missouri’s congressional map in limbo

The Supreme Court rejected Missouri Republicans’ attempt to put a redrawn map in place for the midterms, while a federal judge in a different case ruled that it must be used.

Developing . . .