Doug Poland Profile picture
Husband, father, Presbyterian, NU alum, cyclist, tech junkie, inveterate learner, and trial attorney. Be warned: I also tweet about theology.
Feb 2 16 tweets 3 min read
The court-appointed consultants in the #Wisconsin legislative districting case have spoken. The key takeaway: The GOP gerrymander of Wisconsin in place since 2011 is dead. The key quote: “To put it simply, in Wisconsin, geography is not destiny.” 1/acefiling.wicourts.gov/document/uploa… Wisconsin has been sold a bill of goods by the Wisconsin GOP for a decade. They have said that the reason for the massive GOP advantage in the Legislature is “political geography,” i.e., that Dem voters tend to live in urban areas, while GOP voters tend to live in rural areas. 2/
Mar 24, 2022 11 tweets 2 min read
So, about that SCOTUS decision in Wisconsin yesterday. I’m not going to rehash it but instead focus on what it doesn’t mean, and where we go from here. Remember that what the Wis Sup Ct (or SCOWI, as we say in the trade) did on March 3 was to rule that as a matter of WI law 1/ the Governor’s map best complied because it made the “least changes” from the existing map by moving the fewest people. The SCOTUS ruling couldn’t, and didn’t, touch that ruling because it was made under WI law, not federal law. It was only after SCOWI held as a matter 2/
Sep 12, 2020 35 tweets 29 min read
@SitmanWam @bloatednemesis @CapTimes I’m glad you raised the issue of the August 20 WEC hearing. I have a few things to say about that. But it will take another tweet storm, so settle in. 1/ @SitmanWam @bloatednemesis @CapTimes First, it’s great that so many people are interested in learning more about the process by which our governments (local, state, federal) are formed, and people are elected to positions of power. It’s critical that everyone wake up to it and understand the process. 2/
Sep 11, 2020 13 tweets 3 min read
Although I agree with most of this @CapTimes editorial, there is an unnecessary, and I would say uninformed, adjective that I can’t let go. As one of the lawyers representing the complainant who filed the challenge to the Green Party’s nomination papers, I need to address it. 1/ First, the statement itself: “The failure to place the Greens on the ballot was based on a petty objection and, we suspect, the court will order Hawkins and Walker to be listed.” It is the inclusion of the word “petty” that I think needs to be addressed. 2/
Oct 2, 2019 5 tweets 3 min read
Having tried three different redistricting/gerrymandering cases in the past decade, I will have more to say, but I want to start with this. The audio clip begins: “Let’s start with this, ladies and gentlemen: You are going to be sued.” #FairMaps 2/That’s what the law calls “in anticipation of litigation.” And when you anticipate litigation, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(e) requires that you take reasonable steps to preserve any and all potentially relevant electronically stored information. #FairMaps