Federal judge punts, sends Democrats' suit to 3-judge panel Kazen critical of both sides in redistricting standoff By R.G. RATCLIFFE Aug. 27, 2003, 2:57PM LAREDO -- A federal judge told lawyers for runaway Democratic senators today that he believes their lawsuit seeking voting rights and free speech protections is all but totally frivolous, but he agreed to leave the final decision to a three-judge panel. U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen said he believes Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's push for mid-decade congressional redistricting is wrong and a waste of taxpayer money. However, Kazen also criticized the...