Supreme Court says 'no' to Georgia stay, federal court readies to draw plan
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied the state of Georgia's request to postpone a judgement requiring lawmakers to redraw legislative maps before this year's elections. ...
The ruling does not close the door on legal action. [Attorney General] Baker could continue with an appeal of the decision.
But shortly after Thursday's order, Baker was urging lawmakers to complete their work of redrawing district lines -- saying the three-judge panel that originally overturned them would draw the maps otherwise.
"The attorney general is not foreclosing any legal options, but he encourages the General Assembly and the governor to draw maps or the three-judge court will be drawing maps for them," said Baker spokesman Russ Willard. -- Supreme Court denies stay of redistricting order (AP)
Three federal judges, who ruled earlier this month that House and Senate districts are unconstitutional, on Wednesday chose retired Judge Joseph Hatchett to lead a panel of experts that would design new election districts.
That selection came after attorneys from both sides agreed that it is "highly unlikely" a politically divided Legislature and Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue would reach agreement.
Hatchett was the first black person to serve on the Florida Supreme Court. He was appointed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1979 and then moved to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when it was created in 1981. He practices law in Tallahassee. ...
"Come next Monday, if we don't have a plan, we have no choice but to begin crafting an interim plan," said 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stanley Marcus, one of the three judges on the panel. "If the court draws a plan, we will do it with expedition."
Marcus pointed out that a court-drawn plan might not protect incumbents. "How would you protect incumbents, if you wanted to?" he asked.
The court wants to have a draft from Hatchett by March 15. Then, attorneys for the state and for the Republicans who filed the lawsuit would have a week to respond before the judges made the maps final. -- Judge picked to draw districts (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)