The Virginia Supreme Court will allow a lower court order temporarily blocking the commonwealth from certifying the results of a redistricting referendum to remain in place, dealing a blow to Democrats who sought to challenge the ruling.
The high court on Tuesday denied a motion by Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) to appeal last week’s ruling from a Tazewell County circuit court judge that found the referendum unconstitutional.
Judge Jack Hurley Jr. sided with the Republican National Committee (RNC) in February in a lawsuit seeking to block the April 21 referendum, arguing against its timing and the phrasing of the ballot question.
But the state Supreme Court stepped in and allowed it to continue, stating last month that while there were issues of “grave concern” regarding the process undertaken by the Virginia General Assembly, it declined to offer an opinion on the matter.
“It is the process, not the outcome, of this effort that we may ultimately have to address,” the court said. “Issuing an injunction to keep Virginians from the polls is not the proper way to make this decision.”
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