Wisconsin Supreme Court Approves Republican-Drawn Legislative Maps

The conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to adopt new state legislative maps drawn by Republicans who control the Legislature, reversing its earlier decision that favored maps drawn by the state’s Democratic governor.

The court acted after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down its previous decision last month, stating in a contentious ruling that the state justices had not considered whether the Democratic-drawn map complied with the federal Voting Rights Act.

The newly adopted maps — partisan gerrymanders that had been drawn in secret in 2011 after the G.O.P. took control from Democrats in both houses of the Legislature — essentially lock in overwhelming Republican majorities in the Assembly and the Senate for the next decade.

The State Supreme Court’s decision is the latest development in a monthslong legal battle that began in November, when Gov. Tony Evers vetoed legislative districts drawn by the Republicans.