CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Supreme Court of Virginia will hear arguments Monday in the first case filed by Republicans to try to stop the new congressional redistricting maps the Democrat-controlled General Assembly passed last winter, and voters approved Tuesday.

In this case, McDougle et al v. Nardo et al, the plaintiffs argue the General Assembly violated the state constitution in calling the special session that began redistricting.

McDougle is state Senator Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover), a member of the redistricting committee that attempted to draw the congressional map in 2021, who filed the suit along with a along with state Senator Bill Stanley (R-Rocky Mount) and Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City).

The lead defendant is House of Delegates Clerk Paul Nardo, along with House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth), Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar, and Chief Deputy Senate Clerk Tara Perkinson.

The plaintiffs argue the legislature violated the state’s constitution by calling the special session that started the redistricting process.

They claim only the governor, not the House Speaker, can convene or expand the scope of a special session.

Thus, they seek to block the actual introduction of the amendment.

Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley issued an injunction back in January that would have blocked the referendum, but the state Supreme Court allowed the referendum to occur while they considered this case as well as one other.

Wednesday, Hurley granted Republicans an immediate injunction blocking certification of the voter’s decision. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones immediately appealed that ruling.

Those are two of the cases challenging the redistricting referendum.

Friday, former U.S. Attorney Tim Heaphy told WINA News that the Supreme Court in Virginia will likely have the final say in the cases, since the U.S. Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction over state elections.