Legal Definitions - jurisdictional gerrymandering

Jurisdictional gerrymandering refers to the strategic manipulation of the geographical boundaries of an administrative or legal jurisdiction, rather than electoral districts, to achieve a specific political, economic, or social advantage for one group or to disadvantage another. This manipulation affects which laws, regulations, or services apply to certain areas or populations, or which governmental body has authority over them.

• Example 1: Municipal Annexation for Tax Revenue

  A rapidly growing suburban town decides to expand its municipal borders. Instead of annexing a contiguous, mixed-income residential area that has requested city services, the town council votes to annex a non-contiguous, wealthy industrial park several miles away, connected only by a narrow strip of land. The residential area is left outside the town's jurisdiction.

  This is jurisdictional gerrymandering because the town is manipulating its municipal boundaries (its jurisdiction) not for logical growth or service provision to its immediate neighbors, but to selectively increase its tax revenue from the industrial park while avoiding the costs and potential demographic shifts associated with incorporating the nearby residential area. The boundary drawing is designed to benefit the town's financial interests and potentially maintain a specific demographic balance.

• Example 2: Special Economic Zones

  A state legislature creates a new "Economic Revitalization Zone" with special tax incentives and relaxed environmental regulations to encourage business development. The boundaries of this zone are drawn in a highly irregular shape, specifically encompassing properties owned by major political donors and excluding adjacent, less politically connected businesses that might also benefit from revitalization.

  Here, the legislature is gerrymandering the jurisdiction of a special economic zone. By drawing the boundaries to include specific properties and exclude others, they are manipulating where certain laws (tax incentives, environmental rules) apply, providing a targeted advantage to favored entities under the guise of general economic development.

• Example 3: Environmental Court Authority

  A state's judicial redistricting committee redraws the boundaries for a specialized environmental court. The new lines are drawn in a way that places all major industrial polluters within the jurisdiction of a particular judge known for lenient rulings on environmental cases, while placing environmental advocacy groups and affected communities under the jurisdiction of a different court or judge known for stricter enforcement.

  This illustrates jurisdictional gerrymandering because the boundaries of a court's authority (its jurisdiction) are being manipulated. The strategic placement of specific parties or types of cases under the purview of a particular judge or court is intended to influence the likely legal outcomes, favoring one side (industrial polluters) over another (environmental advocates).