Ohio Supreme Court Upholds Gerrymandered Legislative Maps, Dismisses Legal Challenges

The Ohio Supreme Court's Republican majority dismissed lawsuits challenging the state's gerrymandered legislative maps, allowing them to remain in place for the 2024 elections. Despite the court previously ruling the maps unconstitutional, the Ohio Redistricting Commission (ORC) failed to submit compliant maps. The ORC later adopted new maps that were deemed illegally gerrymandered in favor of Republicans. The court's majority granted motions to dismiss the lawsuits, stating that the adoption of the new maps with bipartisan support constituted a changed circumstance. The decision means the current maps will be used until 2031, unless a voter-approved constitutional amendment creates an independent redistricting commission.