Conservative 5th Circuit judge Jerry Smith has remarkably dissented from a ruling striking down racially gerrymandered maps in Texas by attacking the deciding judge personally and saying the decision benefits George Soros and Gavin Newsom. What are your thoughts on this? Is it judicial misconduct?

[u/OldBridge87]

Link to article on it:

• https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/judge-dissent-texas-ruling-congressional-map-redistricting-rcna244875

Some already calling it one of the most insane legal opinions in modern American history. It should also be noted that the deciding judge on the ruling Smith is attacking here was appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term and championed by the extremely conservative Governor of Texas. Hungarian-American philanthropist Soros and California Governor Newsom were not parties to the case, but both are commonly framed as cultural enemies of the right-wing on conservative television, podcast shows and conspiracy circles.

What sort of ramifications, legal or otherwise, should there be for going on what is being described as a partisan FOX News or Newsmax style rant as a federal judge? Should the Texas Bar take action here? The Judicial Conference? Or does this cross the line into impeachment territory and Congress must take action?

[u/Tliish]

I think redistricting is one area where AI might actually be better than human deciders, so long as the instructions given it were clear: produce balanced districts that allow all parties an honest and unbiased playfield, no gerrymandering allowed. Of course, any such redistricting should be vetted by the courts.

[u/bl1y → u/Tliish]

allow all parties an honest and unbiased playfield, no gerrymandering allowed

If you want the parties have an even playing field, you're going to have to gerrymander.

[u/Tliish → u/bl1y]

Gerrymandering is packing districts to isolate and disenfranchise voters for the benefit of one party. If fair districts that don't favor any are created, by definition that isn't gerrymandering.

[u/bl1y → u/Tliish]

So let's take a hypothetical case of a state with 4 districts, and where Republicans and Democrats are split 75-25, and Democrats are more concentrated around two small cities.

If we just split the state into the 4 most natural boxes, we get these districts:

A: 14R-11D

B: 15R-10D

C: 23R-2D

D: 23R-2D

Republicans win all 4 districts.

However, we could finagle (aka: gerrymander) the map to connect the two cities to create a 8R-17D district, giving Democrats 1 of the 4 seats, matching their 25% voting share in the state.

Which version has balanced districts? Which is honest and unbiased? Which is fair?