unless they really want to screw us.

. . . we are screwed if they wait until after the election to hear this. This isn't an appeal of the Virginia Supreme Court's decision -- it's a request of the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a stay of the Virginia Supreme Court's decision. If they choose not to grant it, or don't respond to the filing until after the election, that means the Virginia Supreme Court's ruling, which set aside the voter-approved map, goes into effect. That's where we would be screwed!

But I suppose this will expose their methods for all to see

The legislature has within their power the ability to forcibly retire the entire VASC by passing a law setting an arbitrary retirement age (set to the age of the youngest Justice who voted to block the redistricting, which is 54), and making it take effect immediately. The legislature could then change the law back and appoint a new court, rehiring the liberals if they chose to.

I didn’t just make this up, it’s a strategy actually being circulated by several legal experts.

Because, you know, if we do the repugs might do something underhanded to US!

Which I presume is legal.

The law you quoted says “refuse to hire or discharge”; discharge is not the same as mandatory retirement, especially if that mandatory retirement comes with all the benefits retirees are entitled to.

Like I said, I didn’t just make it up, there are a number of legal experts discussing this strategy.

If I can find any of the sources I encountered, I will post links.

I think one of the sources may have been someone at the Lawfare blog - they know their stuff.

Regardless of whose side wins in court, half of them end up being wrong.

If that’s possible. We assume the VA Supreme Court is the final arbiter, but this SCOTUS has earned a reputation for extremism. Might help to know how extreme.

Leak the potential for force retiring the court and then file a motion for them to reconsider based on them misunderstanding what constitures an election. If they dont then follow through.

The same SCOTUS that just told Alabama to go ahead and redraw its maps? The same SCOTUS that keeps green lighting drumpf with the shadow docket abuse?

I'm willing to bet they will just say "uh.... we need to review the merits of this and we'll decide in two years".......... they only move fast when they need a way to help drumpf with no explanation to the lower courts..........

This is absolutely outrageous. SCOTUS reinstated Texas gerrymander 15 weeks before primary because they claimed it was too close to election to block it but now allowing Alabama to gerrymander one week before primary after trial court found map was intentionally discriminatory against Black voters

— Ari Berman (@ariberman.bsky.social) 2026-05-11T23:00:42.315Z

Even looking at the argument, the Virginia attorney posted this simply is not in the jurisdiction of SCOTUS.

Probably a quick 9-0 8-1 or maybe 7-2 shoot down.