A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a North Carolina case should put to rest Ohio Republicans’ challenge that their proposed congressional maps were unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s not going to grant a hearing now on the existing Ohio request,” Ohio State law professor Steve Huefner told WSYX. “They’re just going to dismiss that or deny it now.”

For those who want fair, constitutional maps drawn in the state, it should be a victory. But it is a hollow one.

The challenged ruling came from a state Supreme Court that included then-Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who joined the three Democrats on the court to rule against what GOP lawmakers and the Ohio Redistricting Commission knew were unfair, unconstitutional, gerrymandered maps.

Though the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling rejected the idea that legislators have the authority to draw new congressional maps, not subject to state courts’ review, the point may be moot in Ohio. With O’Connor gone, lawmakers are likely to continue with their maps quest.

Voters –no matter how their districts are drawn — should let legislators and members of the commission know that won’t go without consequences.