[inquest]

The only thing I don't understand here is, What's the federal concern? This sounds like an internal state matter to me.

[Phantom Lord]

There is no federal concern. The RATS are trying anything and everything to maintain control here. They basically argued that if they didnt get the districts they drew that the new districts would be a violation of the Voting Rights Act, essentially arguing that the entire state of NC should be federally monitored under the VRA.

Oh, and check out my post in #18

[callisto]

It is a state matter IMHO. I haven't read the decision but I would think that that fact played a part in it. The Dems were 'grasping at straws' in an effort to keep their misdrawn plans. The irony is that the state legislature doesn't seem to be accomplishing much on meeting the deadline for correcting the maps and the judge will end up redrawing them.