In their instant analysis of the United States Supreme Court decisions on political or partisan gerrymandering in Rucho v. Common Cause and Lamone v. Benisek, many in the national media reported that there is now no further role for the “courts.” Despite later clarification that the states retain several roles, the impression is often left that a loss in the United States Supreme Court ends things as a matter of “constitutional law.”

We in New Jersey know that is not the case. The Supreme Court has, for now, ended the role of federal courts. In effect, this decision now leaves the matter of partisan gerrymandering to the states—their constitutions, legislatures and courts.