Missouri's highest court on Thursday demanded answers from state officials on how they plan to revert to the previous congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the implementation of a Republican-drawn plan that would have given the GOP a 7-1 advantage in the state's House delegation.
The block came just as the Missouri Supreme Court was about to hear arguments on whether Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins should be held in contempt for instructing local election authorities to proceed with the new map despite a state court order halting it.
Chief Justice W. Brent Powell opened the hearing by stressing the court's intent: “We just want to make sure that the law is followed.” His remarks underscored the confusion that has engulfed Missouri's redistricting process in recent weeks.
The state's Principal Deputy Solicitor General, William Seidleck, acknowledged the situation but said officials were still “carefully evaluating” the Supreme Court's ruling. Powell pressed him to confirm that the GOP-favored map, known as HB-1, never took effect. Seidleck conceded, “Yes, per this court's holding.”
Despite that admission, the judges appeared skeptical. Powell warned Hoskins “not to venture far” until the contempt question is settled. Judge Paul Wilson at one point scoffed at the state's explanations, remarking, “it's just English.”
The hearing reflected the chaotic legal landscape. Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a referendum must occur before the GOP map could be used. But a federal judge separately ordered officials to proceed with the map for the upcoming primary, creating conflicting directives.
That federal order was lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court less than an hour before Thursday's state hearing. Seidleck told the court that the state's injunction is now “fully controlling the situation,” unless a federal court intervenes again.
Still, Powell reiterated that no future federal guidance would change the fact that HB-1 never went into effect. The state court announced it would reconvene later Thursday afternoon to continue deliberations.
With the midterm elections less than 60 days away, the uncertainty has left voters and election officials in limbo. The case has drawn national attention, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh denying a GOP bid to reinstate the map for the November elections. The clash between state and federal courts has also sparked debate over jurisdictional tensions and raised questions about the limits of state authority in election administration.
Hoskins, who has been at the center of the controversy, faces a contempt hearing that could determine whether he violated court orders. The Missouri Supreme Court's next move will likely shape the state's congressional map for the remainder of the decade.
