Arizona: court of appeals hears arguments in state redistricting case
AP reports: Arizona's redistricting fight was back in court Tuesday as an appellate court heard arguments over whether legislative and congressional maps drawn by a commission and used in two elections satisfy a voter-passed initiative.
A trial judge in January 2004 ruled that the legislative map was unconstitutional because it didn't create enough competitive districts. However, the judge said the congressional version passed legal muster.
The Independent Redistricting Commission is appealing the ruling on the legislative map, which was challenged by Hispanic Democrats, while the Navajo Nation is appealing the one on the congressional map.
Court of Appeals Judge Ann A. Scott Timmer said a key issue is whether the constitutional amendment creating the commission put creating competitive districts ahead, behind or on a par with other redistricting goals.
Commission attorney Lisa Hauser said the amendment gave the higher goals a higher priority but that courts should not be second-guessing the commission's exercise of its discretion to balance the competing priorities. -- Court of Appeals weighs redistricting appeals