The U.S. Supreme Court this morning rejected voting district maps drawn for Texas by a federal judicial panel in San Antonio and directed the panel to create a map closer to one approved this summer by the state Legislature.
Bloomberg sent out this blast just a few minutes ago.
The high court’s unanimous decision comes as a panel of federal judges in the District of Columbia completes its first week of testimony in a hearing to determine whether the Legislature’s redistricting discriminated against minority voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
The hearings are scheduled to continue through Jan. 26 with final arguments to be made on Feb. 3.
The Supreme Court on Jan. 9 heard arguments from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who challenged the map drawn by the San Antonio panel and by supporters, who said the Legislature’s maps would disenfranchise minority voters. Abbott's office issued this statement Friday.
As the case makes its way through three courts, Texas voters wait to see when the state’s primary elections will be held. The current April 3 date delayed the primary by a month because of the legal wrangling.
The high court’s unanimous decision comes as a panel of federal judges in the District of Columbia completes its first week of testimony in a hearing to determine whether the Legislature’s redistricting discriminated against minority voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
The hearings are scheduled to continue through Jan. 26 with final arguments to be made on Feb. 3.
The Supreme Court on Jan. 9 heard arguments from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who challenged the map drawn by the San Antonio panel and by supporters, who said the Legislature’s maps would disenfranchise minority voters. Abbott's office issued this statement Friday.
As the case makes its way through three courts, Texas voters wait to see when the state’s primary elections will be held. The current April 3 date delayed the primary by a month because of the legal wrangling.
Note: This post was updated at 10:54 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, with a link to Abbott's statement.
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Contact Mark Lisheron at 512-299-2318 or mark@texaswatchdog.org or on Twitter at @marktxwatchdog.
Contact Mark Lisheron at 512-299-2318 or mark@texaswatchdog.org or on Twitter at @marktxwatchdog.
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