Ohio Supreme Court wants a reason for redistricting fail by Wednesday

Ohio’s Supreme Court wants a written explanation by noon Wednesday for why the state’s redistricting commission shouldn’t be held in contempt for failing to draw new legislative maps. 

The seven-member commission has submitted two sets of maps for Ohio’s 99 state House seats and 33 Senate districts, but a 4-3 majority on the court threw them both out as unconstitutional. 

The third set of legislative maps were supposed to be done by midnight Thursday, but the Republican majority said it was impossible to comply with the court’s redistricting demands.

Democrats said the GOP members “lacked the will” to try. And the parties who brought the initial lawsuits petitioned the Supreme Court for a formal explanation.

“That challenge to this court’s authority cannot stand,” according to the petition. “This court should make respondents explain in detail why they chose a defiant course of action.”