Missouri Supreme Court Rules Senate District Map Is Constitutional

The voters’ argument that the new map did not draw ‘compact’ districts was also refuted.

A man waves an American flag as he walks outside the Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City, Mo., on Jan. 20, 2021. Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

A state Senate district map drawn by a judicial commission in Missouri has been ruled constitutional by the state’s Supreme Court on Feb. 14, bringing an end to a lawsuit that has divided Republican lawmakers into two camps.

In its 5-2 decision (pdf), the state’s top court rejected a legal challenge to the redistricting plan brought by voters in July 2022 contending that mapmakers should have placed a greater emphasis on preserving communities.