Appeals Court Upholds Redistricted Legislative Lines

Reversing a decision by a New York State Supreme Court judge, a state appeals court on Thursday ruled that the redistricted legislative lines put forward by Republicans are allowed to be used in this coming election.

An appellate panel in the 2nd Judicial Department ruled that the steps set fourth in the county charter, including a bipartisan commission and public hearings, can not hold up the lines from being put into place. That was the reason the Supreme Court judge, Steven Jaeger, had ruled against the lines in his July ruling.

“We are very gratified that the appellate division has upheld our county charter, as we fully expected,” said Presiding Officer Peter J. Schmitt. 

Democrats have not collected petitions for a candidate in the newly created western 19th Legislative District, which includes parts of the Five Towns, according to published reports. A write-in campaign may still be possible, however.

Democrats will most likely take the case to the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, on Aug. 24.

This year’s primary will take place on Sept. 13 and the general election on Nov. 2.