A special session in Richmond, for which lawmakers convened to fix the state’s congressional map, became the scene of a bitter debate over a vacancy on the state Supreme Court Monday.
Advertisement
Republicans are backing Alston after complaining that McAuliffe should have consulted GOP leaders before appointing Roush to the Supreme Court.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, wants Jane Roush to fill the vacancy. A federal panel of judge has given the state a September 1 deadline to draw a new congressional state map.
Republicans had planned to elect Rossie D. Alston Jr., now a judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals, instead of Roush.
“While several maps were filed by Democratic legislators and the NAACP, Republican leaders offered nothing for Virginians to consider”.
McAuliffe’s nomination of Roush of Fairfax will expire next week.
John Watkins sided with Democrats to sink Alston’s elevation to the high court.
Had the legislature remained in session, Roush would have to leave the court 30 days from Monday without legislative endorsement.
“Therefore, it is appropriate that the court now take action and provide relief to the citizens of the commonwealth in the form of a new map based on the principles of equal representation, protection of minority voting rights, compact and contiguous districts, and the integrity of communities of interest”, McAuliffe said.
“Not only is this attempt to adjourn blatantly hypocritical and deeply irresponsible, it also directly defies both a federal court ruling and the Governor”. GOP leaders were miffed that McAuliffe’s office did not check with them before appointing her, which they said was a breach in normal protocol.
“All they had to do was put a phone call out – before the fact, not after the fact”, said Republican Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. “Where’s his 21 votes?”
Advertisement
The Senate voted 20-20 to adjourn, with Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam casting the tiebreaking vote. But lawmakers will need to return to Richmond to vote on it before the end of the month, he said. The lawmakers are required to adjust the boundaries of the Third Congressional District. The GOP has indicated it will focus on redrawing parts of the 3rd Congressional District, which a federal panel found had been drawn illegally.
