Redistricting Case Will Proceed to Trial

A cabinet brief issued by the Briceño administration on Wednesday says Henry Charles Usher, Minister of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform, has provided an update on the forthcoming redistricting exercise.  Viewers may recall there is presently a case before Acting Chief Justice Michelle Arana involving the revision of legislative districts.  Attorney Andrew Marshalleck, who represents Lord Michael Ashcroft as an interested party in the matter, says that the case will proceed to trial despite the pending exercise.

Andrew Marshalleck

Andrew Marshalleck, Attorney-at-law

“That case was started the year before the elections, almost one year before and just before the elections there were proceedings concerning whether or not an injunction should be granted, restraining the holding of elections.  That case is still pending [and] directions have been given for that claim to proceed to trial and it is proceeding to trial.  The defense of the government put forth in the claim was that we recognized that there is malapportionment, that redistricting is necessary and that there wasn’t the time to effect the redistricting before the elections were held.  Well the elections have come and gone so what’s left with the government now is to decide when it is that they will be proceeding with redistricting and not if they will proceed with redistricting.  So I think that effort is now being made to move that along, but the case is on its way and directions have been given for it to proceed to trial.”