Scorpions in a Corked Bottle: The Dubious Redistricting Jurisprudence of the United States Supreme Court

Steven B. Lichtman

As the state of Maryland embarks on a politically contentious process of drawing the boundaries of its legislative districts, it will be doing so against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s meandering history on gerrymandering. Perhaps more than the caselaw on any other subject, the Court’s caselaw on redistricting is affected by political considerations—race and party politics as the two most prominent variables—which demonstrate how constitutional jurisprudence is shaped by institutional concerns. This Article will track the development and evolution of the Supreme Court’s work on redistricting, with special attention being paid to these political dynamics.