2020 New York Redistricting

[Babeuf]

None of this discussion really matters. Virtually every court determines this question through a partisan lens. I'm looking at the judges that sit on the New York Court of Appeals (the highest court in the State of New York). They will be the ultimate arbiters of the new maps. The Court is entirely made up of Democratic appointees (a 7-member Court, 6 Cuomo and 1 Hochul). On the other hand, the Chief Judge was once a Republican and another Judge refused the COVID vaccine. If Democrats want this map upheld, they'd certainly be wise to have a better response and counsel compared to what Ohio Republicans put up.

Michael Garcia is also a Republican despite the Cuomo appointment. The anti-vax judge is a Democrat by reputation, though not sure of her ideology. 4 of the judges were confirmed in the days of GOP/IDC senate control, 3 were confirmed after the Dems took the Senate. Will be an interesting case for sure, but I would bet on it being upheld.

[Babeuf]

Although it'll be appealed either way, keep an eye on the decision from the New York supreme Court. Of the nine active justices on the Fourth Division, five were appointed by Cuomo (D), one was appointed by Paterson (D), and three were appointed by Pataki (R). Unless all three Pataki appointees are on the panel, Democrats should really hope to win this case; otherwise, they could be in trouble in the NYCoA, where Cuomo has 6/7 appointees.

Why on Earth would the Democrats be in trouble with the NYCoA and it's all D makeup?

Recent cases that have broken on ideological lines have revealed a 4-3 conservative-ish majority. And one of the 7 is an actual Republican (despite the Cuomo appointment). Several of them were appointed when the Republicans / IDC controlled the senate and had to confirm them, so can be expected to be more right leaning. One of the other judges is an anti-vaxxer.

Now some of the conservative ish judges may also be Dem party hacks to a greater or lesser extent so nothing is certain.

[Babeuf]

Similar 4-3 conservative majority as recent high profile NY CoA cases.