Court gives Texas Legislature deadline for redistricting fix
The three-judge federal court panel that found discrimination problems in 11 Texas political districts, only to be overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court on all but one of the districts, issued an order Thursday giving the Legislature a deadline to take action on redrawing the out-of-compliance district.
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“Before this court undertakes the ‘unwelcome obligation’ of fashioning a remedial plan, the court must afford the Legislature an opportunity to reapportion during either a 2018 special session or the 2019 regular legislative session,” the panel’s order said.
The judges also set a briefing schedule on whether Texas should be placed under federal oversight to ensure that the rights of minority voters are protected in future voting-related changes.
Lawyers for Texas believe the Supreme Court ruling — which found no evidence that Republican lawmakers drew the districts with the intent to discriminate against minority voters — cleared the state of a “preclearance” requirement under the Voting Rights Act.
Read more: https://www.mystatesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/court-gives-texas-legislature-deadline-for-redistricting-fix/99WI1Bmke21H9GqbDK4nII/
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