Idaho Supreme Court declares state’s current legislative districts unconstitutional

The Idaho Supreme Court has made it official: The current legislative district plan now in effect in Idaho is unconstitutional. In its written order, issued today, the high court canceled plans to hold oral arguments on that issue on Oct. 12, as “no parties came forward to defend the constitutionality” of the current district setup, given the population data from the latest U.S. Census, issued in 2010.

Today’s order is the final order in the case in which the court already declined to order a citizen redistricting commission back to work after it blew its Sept. 6 deadline, and instead forced the appointment of a new commission; that new bipartisan six-member panel is holding public hearings this week, including one last night in Idaho Falls, one tonight in Coeur d’Alene, and one tomorrow in Boise. You can read the Supreme Court’s order here .