Sept. 12, 2003, 4:01PM
Federal panel rejects Texas Democrats' redistricting lawsuit
Associated Press
AUSTIN -- A three-judge federal panel in West Texas today dismissed a lawsuit filed by senate Democrats hoping to derail a new round of redistricting in Texas.
The Democrats argued that Senate rule changes by Republicans to further the redistricting effort violated federal law.
The judges, who listened to two hours of oral arguments Thursday in Laredo, dismissed those claims but withheld a decision on an amended complaint of threats to arrest Democrats and require them to pay fees for their failure to appear at a special legislative session on redistricting.
"The arrest issue likely will become moot," the judges wrote in their opinion. Democrats "fear of being coerced to appear at a legislative session is shifting to a fear of being prevented from appearing. For reasons discussed at the hearing, neither the facts nor the law on the issue of threatened monetary sanctions are sufficiently developed at this point to permit an informed decision. Moreover, it is possible that future developments could also moot this issue."
The Democrats filed the lawsuit during their boycott of the Texas Capitol over GOP efforts to redraw the state's congressional districts to give Republicans a majority in the state's congressional delegation.
MORE TO COME
Thanks for the pings ! Just as I thought this would turn out. Happy Daze !