Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Gerrymandering trial centers on racial disputes


Get Doggett plan under federal scrutiny

Lawyers spent much of the morning sparring over whether a panel of three federal judges in San Antonio, charged with drawing district maps for the 2012 election, has the authority to undo the Legislature's decision to split Austin into five congressional districts in a bid to defeat U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.

Several groups suing the state mounted a two-pronged attack against Attorney General Greg Abbott's argument that Doggett's district shouldn't be protected: arguing that the Legislature divided too many communities in an attempt to eliminate Doggett; and that a federal court in Washington, D.C., has signaled that Doggett's district may be protected by the Voting Rights Act.

Complicating matters, the D.C. court isn't expected to release its decision until at least March.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Deal-reached-on-Texas-Senate-map-3332784.php#ixzz1mTzHgMVU

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