League of Women Voters of Ohio v. Ohio Redistricting Comm.

Summary

The Supreme Court of Ohio dismissed three original actions challenging legislative redistricting plans after the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted a plan with bipartisan support. The court held that this changed circumstance justified relinquishing its continuing jurisdiction, denied motions to vacate as moot, and denied petitioners’ requests to file objections to the 2023 plan.

Holdings

1. The cases must be dismissed because the complaints challenged the September 2021 plan and the facts before the court no longer corresponded to those allegations after the commission adopted a materially different September 2023 plan with bipartisan support.
2. The motions to vacate the prior orders invalidating the earlier districting plans were denied as moot.
3. The motions for leave to file objections instanter were denied because the cases were dismissed and were not the appropriate vehicles for challenging the September 2023 plan.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the consolidated original actions should be dismissed because the complaints were tied to the September 2021 plan and no longer corresponded to the September 2023 plan adopted with bipartisan support.
2. Whether respondents' motions to vacate the prior orders invalidating earlier districting plans should be granted.
3. Whether petitioners should be granted leave to file objections instanter to the September 2023 plan.

Disposition

dismissed