CITY, State (Fox News) — Virginia judge strikes down redistricting amendment, ruling lawmakers violated constitutional requirements

Key Facts

• Virginia circuit court judge invalidated actions taken during a special legislative session in 2024
• The lawsuit focused on lawmakers’ authority to advance a redistricting-related constitutional amendment
• Judge Hurley found that the General Assembly violated its own rules when expanding the session’s scope
• The court ruled that the joint resolution proposing changes to district drawing fell outside the limits set by lawmakers

  
  Caption: A Virginia circuit court judge struck down a redistricting amendment, ruling lawmakers exceeded their authority, violated session rules, and failed to meet constitutional notice requirements.

  More Details
  

• The decision addressed the validity of advancing a constitutional amendment under Virginia law
• Judge Hurley noted that over one million Virginians had already cast ballots in the 2025 House of Delegates elections before lawmakers voted on the amendment
• The court rejected arguments that an election occurs only on Election Day rather than during early voting

  
  Caption: Virginia Democrats hoped to score extra congressional seats with the amendment’s prospective passage.