Statement from Attorney General James and Governor Hochul on the Court of Appeals Redistricting Case Decision

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul released the following statement on the New York State Court of Appeals decision to order new Congressional maps be drawn for the 2024 election:  

"Today's redistricting decision will ensure all New Yorkers are fairly and equitably represented by elected officials. As the Court of Appeals reaffirmed today, district lines should be drawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission. We will continue our efforts to protect voting rights for all New Yorkers.” 

In April, Attorney General James and Governor Hochul submitted an amicus brief in support of efforts to redraw New York’s Congressional district lines rather than leaving the lines drawn by a court-appointed special master in place between now and the 2030 census. In their amicus brief, Attorney General James and Governor Hochul noted that the state constitution is clear that the state legislature must have the opportunity to remedy electoral maps found to be invalid by a court. They also noted that since the problem that led the Court of Appeals to approve the involvement of a special master — the short time to impose new electoral maps, with only months to go before the 2022 primary elections — no longer exists, the electoral maps drawn by the special master should not be used for the remainder of the decade. The decision by the Court of Appeals means that new Congressional maps will be drawn and submitted to the legislature for review.