Baylor Law Professor Mike Morrison to Participate in Texas Redistricting Discussion

Professor of Law Emeritus Mike Morrison

WACO

Professor of Law Emeritus Mike Morrison will bring his 40+ years of experience representing cities, counties, and school districts throughout Texas and Arkansas on redistricting issues to a virtual panel discussion entitled "Redrawing Texas: Who Chooses Whom?" on Nov. 1 at 3:30 p.m., hosted by Baylor University’s W.R. Poage Legislative Library and the Institute for oral history. The panel, which is free and open to the public, will discuss the redistricting process in Texas and provide insights into the process currently underway.

In addition to Professor Morrison, the panel, moderated by Associate Professor of History and Director of the Institute for Oral History Stephen Sloan, will also include Chet Edwards, former Texas State Senator, former U.S. Representative, and the W. R. Poage Distinguished Chair of Public Service; Patrick Flavin, the Bob Bullock Professor of Political Science at Baylor University; and Stephanie Swanson, the Redistricting Issue Chair of the League of Women Voters of Texas.

"The redistricting process can be rather opaque and isn’t understood well by those not directly involved in it,” stated Professor Morrison. "I hope that my participation in the program might pull back the veil enough to provide an understanding of the importance of the process, how it works, and how it impacts every voter in Texas.”

In 1981, Professor Morrison represented the Texas Secretary of State's office during the statewide redistricting litigation, and in 1991 he served as a consultant to the Texas Legislative Council for the State of Texas redistricting process. He was hired by the Lt. Governor of Texas to serve as Legal Advisor to the Senate Jurisprudence Committee in preparing and conducting Congressional Redistricting during three special legislative sessions from July through October 2003, again in 2011, and by the Texas House Redistricting Committee in 2013. He also served on the Waco City Council from 1994-1996 and for two terms as Mayor of Waco from 1996-2000.

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