A series of urgent fundraising appeals by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann this week suggests that liberal judicial activism lies behind the fact that she was drawn out of the district she has represented for six years. "In retaliation for repeatedly standing up to President Obama on the national stage," she tells supporters, "liberal judges have redrawn the lines of my Minnesota Congressional District to try and wipe me off of the political map once and for all." The new district lines, announced in February, are described as a "major development" in the campaign. "Their bias was so obvious they even gerrymandered my home – where my wonderful husband Marcus and I live – entirely out of my District and placed it into one held by a six-term Democrat incumbent!" Here's a look at the Minnesota Supreme Court Special Redistricting Panel that established the new congressional lines: The panel was appointed by Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, who was named to her post by former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican. The presiding judge was Wilhelmina Wright, who was appointed to the Appeals Court by former Gov. Jesse Ventura, who ran as a Reform Party independent. Also serving was Hennepin County Judge Ivy Bernhardson, another Pawlenty appointee; Chief St. Louis County Judge James Florey, appointed by former Gov. Arne Carlson, a Republican; Chief Dakota County Judge Edward Lynch, appointed by the late DFL Gov. Rudy Perpich; and Minnesota Appeals Court Judge John Rodenberg, a Ventura appointee elevated to the Appeals Court by Gov. Mark Dayton.
