Earlier this year the General Assembly passed a law redistricting Greensboro’s city council. Thursday, a federal judge will hear arguments on the constitutionality of that law. It’s expected to be a one sided affair.
Under the new law, Greensboro is the only city in North Carolina barred from altering its own electoral districts. Lawyers representing the city and a group of residents will argue this violates state statues and U.S. Constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law.
The defense is expected to make no arguments at all. That’s because no one has stepped forward to represent the state. The Guilford County Board of Elections has said it would be inappropriate to take a side in the case. North Carolina’s attorney general has said they will not defend the law either. The General Assembly can pay for a private attorney to argue the case, but so far has not.