Hoskins ordered to explain potential contempt regarding use of 2025 congressional map

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KQTV) -- The Missouri Supreme Court is ordering Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to prove why he should not be held in contempt of court.

According to the order, Hoskins violated the Court's Sept. 3 injunction to use the 2022 congressional maps for the Nov. 3 General Election.

Hoskins has been ordered to address why his e-mail on Sept. 8, instructing use of the 2025 map, is not an affirmative violation of the Court’s injunction and how the Court's injunction is not still in full force and effect after its overruling of Hoskins' emergency application to stay.

The 2025 map breaks up Missouri's Democratic Fifth District of Kansas City and portions it into other Republican districts, giving Republicans seven out of eight U.S. House seats in the state.

According to the order, if Hoskins is not willing to comply with the injunction, he is advised not to take any action on the 2025 congressional map until other guidance is received from a higher court to review the Missouri Supreme Court's judgment and injunction.

The state's high court gave Hoskins until noon Wednesday, Sept. 9, to respond. It said it will not allow filings from any other parties on the matter.

Oral argument is set for 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. Hoskins was ordered to appear in person.

The order comes after a federal judge ordered Hoskins to use the 2025 map, just days after the Supreme Court said the new map was not law.