JONATHAN TURLEY: Virginia’s ‘Lobster’ district is a gerrymandered Godzilla Virginia’s new congressional map, particularly the 7th District described as a ‘Lobster’ over 100 miles long, is being challenged in court for violating state requirements for compact districts. A circuit court judge found the districts to be partisan gerrymanders but declared the issue of compactness ‘fairly debatable,’ effectively sidestepping the challenge. The author criticizes this judicial stance, comparing it to the inaction of citizens fleeing Godzilla, and hopes the Virginia Supreme Court will act as a check on legislative excess.

• A new congressional map in Virginia has created a district, nicknamed ‘The Lobster,’ stretching over 100 miles long.
• Critics argue this district is a radical partisan gerrymander designed to heavily favor Democrats.
• State law requires congressional districts to be ‘compact,’ a standard the ‘Lobster’ district is accused of violating.
• A Richmond Circuit Court judge acknowledged the districts are partisan gerrymanders and less compact but ruled the issue of compactness is ‘fairly debatable.’
• The author criticizes the judge’s decision as an abdication of responsibility to uphold state standards.
• The case is expected to go to the Virginia Supreme Court, with the author hoping for a rejection of the gerrymandered map.