LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Supreme Court has heard arguments in a challenge to whether a new state commission creating maps for the Legislature and Congress can keep certain business a secret.
The lawsuit, filed by a group of news organizations including Bridge Michigan and The Detroit News, alleges that the Commission violated Const 1963, art 4 § 6 by withholding materials from the public that it used in the development of proposed redistricting plans and by conducting business in a nonpublic meeting.
Watch the hearing here:
News organizations are suing to get access to a recording of a closed meeting and memos at the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
The commission has refused, citing attorney-client privilege.
Voters in 2018 created the commission, taking the job of mapmaking out of the hands of politicians.
Commissioners will meet Dec. 28 to vote on final maps.
More than 130 hearings have been open to the public.
Voters Not Politicians, the group that helped establish the redistricting commission, issued a statement supporting the lawsuit.
“Voters Not Politicians supports the efforts by Michigan media to pursue the release of the Voting Rights Act memos and we appreciate the Michigan Supreme Court’s swift attention to this matter.
“Voters established the Commission to bring redistricting out into the open. Anything that informs the Commission’s mapping decisions should be made public.”
