Judge refuses to delay redistricting order
A judge on Thursday refused to delay use of new legislative districts, a step which the state's top election official has said could interfere with ballot preparations and early voting [in Arizona].
Judge Kenneth Fields of Maricopa County Superior Court in January overturned legislative districts first used in 2002 as unconstitutional. He ordered the state to draw and use a new map with additional districts deemed competitive between the two major parties.
In Thursday's ruling, Fields rejected requests by the state Independent Redistricting Commission and Secretary of State Jan Brewer to put his January order on hold and to allow use of the old districts.
Commission Chairman Steve Lynn said the panel will appeal Fields' latest ruling to either the state Court of Appeals or the Arizona Supreme Court. -- Judge Refuses to Delay Use of New Legislative Dist. (AP via kpho.com)
Here is the order.