In Re: Interrogatories on Senate Bill 21-247 Submitted by the Colorado General Assembly

Summary

The court answered both interrogatories in the negative, concluding that the proposed legislation would unconstitutionally direct the independent redistricting commissions and their staff and would improperly dictate the standard courts must use to review constitutional compliance. The court held that Amendments Y and Z do not require exclusive reliance on final federal census data when preliminary and staff plans are prepared, but the General Assembly may not compel the commissions to use particular data or take specified actions. It also held that determining the standard for interpreting and enforcing constitutional provisions is a judicial function.