The Supreme Court,The Congress: Redrawing the Lines

THE SUPREME COURT

Rarely has a Supreme Court decision caused such swift, tumultuous reaction. Late one night last week, the gavel pounded and pounded again in the Georgia state house of representatives. Dozens of lawmakers were shouting: "Mistuh Speakuh! Mistuh Speakuh!" The clock was fast approaching midnight on Feb. 21, the hour and day of statutory adjournment of the Georgia legislature. But adjournment was out of the question. At stake was the necessity of readjusting Georgia's outrageously malapportioned U.S. congressional districts.

Now it was 11:50 p.m. — and the Speaker ordered that the clock...