In a significant ruling with far-reaching implications, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has declared the state's current legislative maps, favoring Republicans, to be unconstitutional. The court, with a 4-3 decision, ordered new lines to be drawn ahead of the 2024 election. This development comes after liberals gained control of the court earlier this year.

The Wisconsin case is one of several redistricting battles taking place across the country that could potentially determine control of governing bodies, ranging from local boards to state legislatures and even the US House of Representatives.

Despite Wisconsin being politically evenly divided, Republicans currently enjoy a supermajority in the state Senate and a strong majority in the state Assembly under the existing districts. However, the court's ruling stated that at least 50 out of 99 assembly districts and at least 20 out of 33 senate districts violate the state constitution's requirement of "contiguous territory."

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has enjoined the Wisconsin Elections Commission from using the current maps in future elections and ordered the adoption of remedial maps prior to the 2024 elections. All parties involved will have the opportunity to submit their own district maps, supported by expert evidence and explanations of how they meet the court's principles.

To ensure an expedient process given the approaching elections, the court will appoint a consultant or consultants to evaluate these remedial maps, with parties allowed to respond to one another and the consultant's report. However, if legislators fail to act, the court expressed its willingness to step in and adopt remedial maps based on the criteria outlined in the ruling.

Attorney Sam Hirsch, who represented the petitioners, expressed his team's eagerness to participate in the remedial process, hoping to achieve fair representation for Wisconsinites in the State Legislature after more than a decade. Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, welcomed the court's decision, expressing optimism that the gerrymandered maps would soon become a thing of the past.

However, Justice Annette Ziegler, in her dissent, criticized the court's decision, arguing that the responsibility of redistricting lies with the other two branches of government and that this matter should be addressed every ten years after a census.

The issue of legislative boundaries was a central point of contention during this year's race for the pivotal state Supreme Court seat. Justice Janet Protasiewicz, the liberal-backed candidate who won the election, labeled the maps "rigged" and "unfair," suggesting that their constitutionality should be evaluated by the courts. Following her seating in August, Democratic-backed groups filed two lawsuits, leading to the present ruling.

In response to the court's decision, State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos expressed disappointment, asserting that the case had been decided beforehand. He expressed confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court would give the final verdict.

This ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court marks a significant development in the ongoing fight over redistricting, shaping the landscape of political representation and potentially impacting the balance of power in future elections.