Supreme Court conservatives hint they may rule narrowly for GOP in election map dispute

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court’s conservative majority hinted Wednesday they may rule narrowly for Republican state lawmakers in North Carolina who are claiming a right to set election maps and rules without review by state courts.

The justices heard arguments in a partisan gerrymandering case that raised a major question of election law.

At issue was whether the state’s lawmakers have exclusive power to draw congressional election maps that give their party a lopsided advantage, or if those maps are subject to invalidation or modification by the state Supreme Court.

There was no clear consensus on how to rule, but the six conservative justices suggested they were more inclined to limit the power of state judges, rather than limit the discretion