NPR: Could Supreme Court Decision Lead To Death Of The Gerrymander? - Updated

Sounds like we need to add Utah to the list of states pushing for an independent redistricting commission, with or without a citizens initiative, no?

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Here's another interesting story for US Supreme Court watchers, via National Public Radio (NPR):

The Supreme Court's decision on Monday to uphold the constitutionality of Arizona's independent redistricting commission has some hoping their model could now pave the way for other states to adopt a less partisan way of drawing congressional lines.
"There are a lot of efforts around the country to try and get commissions enacted, and now I think those efforts are going to go full-steam ahead," said Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a law professor at the University of Chicago who studies elections and redistricting. "Now that the Constitution has been cleaned up, the green light is definitely visible through this."
So far, two states — Arizona and California — have adopted the independent commissions, each created by voter referendum. Had the court ruled against the legality of those bodies, it could have affected as many as one-third of congressional districts — spurring not just a redrawing of lines there but also impacting other states that have commissions involved in some capacity.
The court's decision gave hope to gerrymandering opponents, who have long advocated for better ways to draw boundaries than by those who would benefit the most from them. (Here's a brief history of "gerrymandering" and how it got the name.)
"Now with California and Arizona on safe constitutional ground, maybe other states will look to them as a model," said Stanford Law School professor Nathaniel Persily, who filed an amicus brief in the case.

Read up folks:

• Could Supreme Court Decision Lead To Death Of The Gerrymander?

In light of this latest SCOTUS decision, Utah is one of the states which could benefit from taking a fresh look at the manner in which Utah legislative districts are drawn, or so it seems to us:

• Analysts say Utah redistricting tough on Democrats

Sounds like we need to add Utah to the list of states pushing for an independent redistricting commission, with or without a citizens initiative, no?.

Update 7/1/15 10:29 a.m.: A couple of impressive followup pieces, via the Salt Lake Tribune:

• Editorial: Utah should profit by Arizona’s example
• Debate: Voters choose their representatives, not the other way around ...

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," says the Trib editorial board.

Breaking: Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage Nationwide

This may be the best term a solicitor general has ever had

Via the Huffington Post, which reports that marriage equality is now the "law of the land."  Here's the lede, folks:

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Friday that it is legal for all Americans, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, to marry the people they love.
The decision is a historic victory for gay rights activists who have fought for years in the lower courts. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia already recognize marriage equality. The remaining 13 states ban these unions, even as public support has reached record levels nationwide.
The justices found that under the 14th Amendment, states must issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize same-sex unions that were legally performed in other states. Justice Anthony Kennedy delivered the majority opinion and was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Stephen G. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor. [Emphasis added].

Read the full HuffPo story here:

• Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage Nationwide

Needless to say, on the heels of yesterday's blockbuster SCOTUS decision, U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli is "on a roll":

• This may be the best term a solicitor general has ever had

Keep your eyes on Weber County Forum, peeps, as we add important updates, whilst the inevitable pro/con reactions roll in throughout the day.

Updates 6/25/15: Just like clockwork, conservative heads are beginning to explode like popcorn in hot oil, all over the webosphere:

• “Polygamy, here we come!” Right wing melts down over gay marriage victory - Slate
• LDS Church says 'Supreme Court decision will not alter doctrine on marriage' - Good4Utah
• The 10 Most Wild Lines From Antonin Scalia’s Extreme Dissent Over Gay Marriage - Mother Jones
• Weekly Standard Freaks Out Over Gay Marriage: 'You Will Be Assimilated' - TPM
• Glenn Beck Goes Full-On Drama Queen With Obamacare Ruling: ‘The Country As We Know It Is Done’ (VIDEO) - Addicting Info
• Mike Huckabee: I Will Not Accept Gay Marriage Ruling By ‘Imperial Court’ - TPM
• Rick Perry Ignores Supreme Court Ruling Vows to Enable Discrimination Against Gays
• Republican Presidential Candidates Criticize Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
• Bobby Jindal administration says Louisiana won't recognize gay marriage yet - Times Picayune
• The New Nullification Crisis: GOPers Vow To Defy SCOTUS Over Gay Marriage- TPM
• Senator Mike Lee reacts to Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling - Good4Utah
• Utah lawmaker: Does logic behind gay-marriage ruling open door to ‘polygamy, bestiality’? - SL Trib
• Far-Right: Flee America Before God Destroys Us For Gay Marriage! - Right Wing Watch
• Lawmaker has bill drafted to do away with marriages in Utah - Fox13
• Governor Herbert 'disappointed' with Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling - Good4Utah

Marriage equality advocates and various other civil libertarian-types are greeting today's decision with open arms, of course:

• President Obama on Same-Sex Marriage Ruling (Video) - C-Span
• Utah Pride Center, Equality Utah, Better Utah react to Supreme Court marriage ruling - Good4Utah
• Obama call to plaintiff in gay marriage case caught on camera (Video) - The Hill
• Celebrities cheer gay marriage ruling- The Hill
• Libertarian Party four-decade advocacy for marriage equality pays off with US Supreme Court decision - Libertarian Party

Updates 6/27/2015 And the post-SCOTUS-decision fun begins again:

• East Texas same-sex couple sues after being denied marriage license

Breaking: Obama Gets A Gigantic Win As Supreme Court Rules ACA Subsidies Are Constitutional 6-3

Over on the Republican side of the congressional aisle: Wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth

Great news this morning for fans of the Affordable Care Act. Here's the lede from Politics USA:

In a decision that crushed Republican hopes of using the judicial system to gut Obamacare, the Supreme Court ruled by a 6-3 margin that the subsidies are constitutional under the ACA.
This defeat means that the Republican efforts to gut Obamacare have come to a grinding halt. The King v. Burwell case was the GOP’s last chance to get a court ruling that would effectively gut the ACA. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kennedy sided with the majority and wrote the opinion.

Read the full story, Peeps:

• Obama Gets A Gigantic Win As Supreme Court Rules ACA Subsidies Are Constitutional 6-3

Here's the money quote:

The Supreme Court said that subsidies were available to all Americans. The size of this victory for President Obama and Democrats can’t be underestimated. Republicans have been crushed by the High Court today as 6.4 million Americans will get to keep their affordable healthcare.

Over on the Republican side of the congressional aisle:  Wailing, weeping and gnashing of teeth:

• GOP pledges to fight 'tooth and nail' to repeal ObamaCare
• Here's the early Republican reaction to the Supreme Court upholding Obamacare subsidies

Comments anyone?