Denver – A federal court has thrown out the last remaining challenge to Colorado’s congressional redistricting plan, saying the state Supreme Court resolved the case when it upheld a plan backed by Democrats.
Republican Party officials said today they expect to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ruling, handed down Wednesday and made available today, is a setback for the GOP, which has been seeking to overturn the state’s congressional district map for two years.
A Democratic lawmaker and three Republicans filed a lawsuit in federal court contending their First Amendment right to petition the Legislature had been violated when the state Supreme Court upheld the map.
A three-judge panel in U.S. District Court said the lawsuit was moot because the plaintiffs’ case had been heard.
“It is well established that the right to petition the government does not include the right to have the government grant redress,” the panel said.
Colorado Republican chairman Bob Martinez said the party was contacting the plaintiffs to discuss an appeal.
“With this issue as important as it is, we expect to appeal it to its ultimate conclusion,” he said.
The district map, drawn up by a state judge in 2002 after lawmakers could not agree on boundaries, has withstood several other court and legislative challenges.
