Supreme Court: Legislatures must obey state election law

+ heat dome; how Daniel Ellsberg shook up The New York Times US Edition - Today's top story: Supreme Court says state lawmakers can't just ignore state law when drawing voting districts or choosing presidential electors [View in browser]( US Edition | 28 June 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Scheme to sell body parts an aberration in med school practices]( - [Inside a basketball league leading high schoolers to the pros]( - [Making musical theory education more diverse]( Lead story If you can say “independent state legislature theory,” and know what it is, then you’re part of a pretty large group of people who have been watching the U.S. Supreme Court website, and the very helpful Scotusblog.com, like hawks recently. The court has steadily been issuing opinions in cases over the past few weeks and has evidently saved some of the biggest decisions for last. Yesterday, one of those big opinions dropped. More precisely, it was a straightforward opinion in a big case that University of Richmond legal scholar Henry L. Chambers Jr. said “merely reiterates what most people always thought the law was: [Legislatures cannot legislate inconsistently with the law]( that governs their actions and their state. This conclusion seems obvious, like saying the sky is blue or water is wet.” But what if the decision had been different? Moore v. Harper was a case that could have changed U.S. elections and politics in fundamental ways. In my interview with Chambers, he explains that from the shape of legislative districts to who elects the president, Moore v. Harper was a case that could have unleashed “bedlam” across the country. [[Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, a curated summary of the week’s briefings from academic experts.](] Naomi Schalit Democracy Editor North Carolina’s election districts have been under debate and review for years. AP Photo/Gerry Broome [Supreme Court says state lawmakers can’t just ignore state law when drawing voting districts or choosing presidential electors]( Henry L. Chambers Jr., University of Richmond It’s official: State courts can review lawmakers’ election-district boundary decisions to ensure they comply with state law. Environment + Energy - [What is a heat dome? An atmospheric scientist explains the weather phenomenon baking Texas and forecast to expand]( William Gallus, Iowa State University Heat domes are a dangerous part of summer weather. Politics + Society - [The New York Times worried that publishing the Pentagon Papers would destroy the newspaper — and the reputation of the US]( Kevin M. Lerner, Marist College The New York Times’ publication of the Pentagon Papers showed the paper was willing to jeopardize connections to other powerful institutions, including the government, to serve the public interest. - [US music education has a history of anti-Blackness that is finally being confronted]( Philip Ewell, Hunter College The predominantly white European field of music education in the US is changing radically these days as schools confront anti-Black histories. Ethics + Religion - [Medical students honor body donors through words, deeds and ceremonies]( Amy Lawton, Brandeis University The lessons students learn from dissecting donor bodies go beyond anatomy – and they try to pay that gift forward. Arts + Culture - [Overtime Elite – a private school, basketball league and media conglomerate – just sent two players to the NBA]( Jabari M. Evans, University of South Carolina The organization – which offers its high school-age players a minimum salary of $100,000 – represents a new model for young athletes looking to maximize their earning potential outside of the NCAA. International - [Illegal organ trade is more sophisticated than one might think - who’s behind it and how it could be controlled]( Frederike Ambagtsheer, Erasmus University Medical Center As the value of organs increases, people have a greater incentive to sell and trade. - [Wagner debacle in Russia raises red flags for African states and how they manage their security]( Oluwole Ojewale, Institute for Security Studies The Wagner rebellion in Russia has implications for African countries that depend on mercenaries and non-state armed groups for security. 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