Redistricting tossed out

Karl Rove is crying in his beer today.

In a decision with national implications, the Colorado Supreme Court threw out the state's new congressional districts today, saying the GOP-led Legislature redrew the map in violation of the state constitution.

Lawmakers can redraw congressional districts only after each census and before the ensuing general election, the court said in a closely watched 5-2 decision that followed party lines.

"Because the General Assembly failed to redistrict during this constitutional window, it relinquished its authority to redistrict until after the 2010 census," the court said. "There is no language empowering the General Assembly to redistrict more frequently or at any other time."

The justices chastised the lawmakers for claiming they should be able to redraw the maps "two, or even 10 times in a single decade." "If the districts were to change at the whim of the state Legislature, members of Congress could frequently find their current constituents voting in a different district in subsequent elections," the ruling said.

You can read the opinion here. There's still a federal case pending, but the chances of it being appealed are slim, since it focuses on Colorado constitutional provisions, and states clearly have the right to set redistricting standards. I'm sure there will be more analysis of this decision and it's national implications in the coming days, and if I come across anything interesting I will update.