Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/14pdf/13-1314_3ea4.pdf
Page Number: 81.0

4 

ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE v. ARIZONA 

INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMM’N
 
THOMAS, J., dissenting
 

Court’s  characterization  of  this  as  direct  democracy  at  its 
best is rather like praising a plebiscite in a “banana repub-
lic”  that  installs  a  strongman  as  President  for  Life.    And 
wrapping  the  analysis  in  a  cloak  of  federalism  does  little
to conceal the flaws in the Court’s reasoning. 

I  would  dispense  with  the  faux  federalism  and  would 
instead treat the States in an evenhanded manner.  That 
means applying the Constitution as written.  Although the 
straightforward text of Article I, §4, prohibits redistricting
by  an  unelected,  independent  commission,  Article  III
limits  our  power  to  deciding  cases  or  controversies.    Be-
cause I agree with JUSTICE SCALIA that the Arizona Legis-
lature lacks Article III standing to assert an institutional 
injury against another entity of state government, I would 
dismiss its suit. I respectfully dissent.