Supreme Court Shoots Down South Carolina's Push For 'Independent State Legislature'

Supreme Court , Shoots Down South Carolina's Push , For 'Independent State Legislature'.

On June 27, the Supreme Court sided against Republicans in North Carolina, declining to impose new limits on the ability of state courts to review election laws.

NBC reports that the ruling denied a GOP push to redraw a congressional district map in a way that would favor their candidates.

The justices ruled that the North Carolina Supreme Court was correct in concluding that the map represented a partisan gerrymander against the state's constitution.

The justices ruled that the North Carolina Supreme Court was correct in concluding that the map represented a partisan gerrymander against the state's constitution.

State courts retain the authority to apply state constitutional restraints when legislatures act on the power conferred on them by the Elections Clause, John Roberts, Supreme Court Chief Justice, via NBC.

Chief Justice John Roberts added that state courts do not have "free reign" in regards to conflict with federal law.

NBC reports that the case had the potential to impact the 2024 presidential election.

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North Carolina's congressional map will be re-drawn ahead of the election due to a state law provision that only allows interim maps to be used for one election cycle.

North Carolina's congressional map will be re-drawn ahead of the election due to a state law provision that only allows interim maps to be used for one election cycle.

Republicans in the North Carolina House of Representatives were pushing to have the nation's highest court recognize the “independent state legislature” theory.

The theory gives ultimate power to legislatures under state law when it comes to federal election laws.

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Supporters of the theory have also reportedly pushed for increased restrictions on voting and cited voter fraud as a major issue.