Supreme Court blocks legislative map protest

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Supreme Court has rejected a Republican challenge to the Illinois legislative map, voting along party lines to let the Democratic-drawn district boundaries stand.

Justice Robert Thomas of Glen Ellyn wrote a dissent, joined by the court's other two Republican justices, arguing that timing shouldn't affect consideration of the lawsuit.

Republicans filed the protest in the weeks before the March primary, arguing the Democrats' map shouldn't be legal.

“In light of these considerations, I would grant plaintiff's request for leave to file their original action, give them their day in court, and then decide this important matter of public policy on the merits,” Thomas wrote.

Democratic judges disagreed.

Because Democrats control both the Illinois House and Senate and the governor's office, they had the power to control the every-decade task of redrawing political boundaries for Congress and the General Assembly.