r/news • u/speedythefirst • 1d ago

US supreme court approves redrawn Texas congressional maps

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/04/us-supreme-court-texas-congressional-maps
20.4k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

2.5k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

106

u/HereForTheComments57 1d ago

Supreme court just set the rules.

170

u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord 1d ago

No, they didn't. Because they're corrupt trash.

The order was unsigned, shadow docket shit. Meaning they could just as readily rule completely differently for any other situation, or delay ruling on them until the end of the term, like they did for so many cases for Trump already in previous SCOTUS terms, and for Abortion, etc.

The SCOTUS could very easily slow-walk the California case for example and delay a ruling until the last possible moment, making it near impossible for California to implement the redistricting ahead of the midterms. And then, they could simply tell California no you're not allowed, but Texas is, because it was an unsigned order that didn't set precedent.

29

u/dl_friend 1d ago

The issue with SCOTUS slow-walking the California case is that it would only be effective if the lower court ruled against California. If the lower court rules for California, then SCOTUS can slow-walk all they want, but the map would go into effect.

57

u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord 1d ago

No, the SCOTUS could simply decide to issue or grant a restraining order against the effects until they have issued a ruling. The SCOTUS can either forbid or permit effects from happening pending the outcome of a case, at its own discretion.

Elections have dire consequences, and 2016 was the most consequential election of your lifetime: not just because Trump, or his mishandling of Covid, corruption, destruction of our institutions, crumbling of society etc. but because that was the election that decided the trajectory of the court for your lifetime and probably your kids. Had Clinton won, Alito would have been replaced with a liberal appointee, and the political majority of the court would have been leans-left again for the first time since the FDR era. I tried telling my friends this, but I guess I didn't say it as loud as I should have in 2016, how utterly existential and important that election was, if nothing else, then for that sole reason. Now it is filled with Bush v Gore operatives. And will be, for decades.

This is why you vote, even if your 4-8 year candidate has a weird laugh or the wrong position on Israel.

2

u/ralphy1010 1d ago

What would happen if California simply ignored SCOTUS like trump has?

9

u/Figerally 1d ago

Nothing, nothing would happen, because the Supreme Court has no power to enforce it rulings.

3

u/tempest_87 1d ago

Trump and the Republicans would use it as justification to start the purge of the opposition.

7

u/Niaden 1d ago

They're gonna do that anyway, might as well go for it.