A legal battle that’s already lasted most of this decade has resumed in Arizona courts, raising the possibility that a significant part of the state’s political landscape could be redrawn.
The Court of Appeals on Tuesday heard arguments on an appeal of a judge’s ruling that the constitutional requirements weren’t met when a commission redrew Arizona’s 30 legislative districts.
Current districts have been used in the last three elections while the case has been in court. Attorneys disagree on whether there’s still time for new ones to be used in 2008 voting if the challengers win.
Key issues are whether the commission put required emphasis on creating districts winnable by each major party and how courts should decide that.