Votelaw, Edward Still's blog on law and politics

As a federal court prepares to hear complaints about its new district lines for the state House and Senate, both parties have a wish list they want judges to consider.

Democrats say the court's maps _ drawn because judges ruled the current maps were illegally drawn to hurt the GOP _ would dilute black voting power. Like most Southern states, Georgia must get federal permission to tweak district lines to make sure black voters aren't hurt.

Republicans don't have the same complaints, but they also want to see changes. The court-ordered maps would force a third of current lawmakers to run against a fellow incumbent. ...

Among other things, Democrats say the maps unfairly hurt black lawmakers. Although the court maps stick together more white incumbents than black incumbents, a greater proportion of black lawmakers would have to defeat another incumbent to return to the Capitol.

The Legislative Black Caucus filed its own response to the court complaining about the effect on black lawmakers. Democratic Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who is black, also talked about the matter in his court filing. -- Both parties have complaints about court maps (AP)