A federal three-judge panel Friday dismissed the last case stemming from the state Republicans’ 2003 attempt to change the state’s congressional boundaries to favor the GOP.
John Zakhem, a lawyer representing the mostly Republican plaintiffs, said he would appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“You would think that a claim as important as individual voting rights would be decided by a federal court when it’s never been decided by any court,” Zakhem said. “But the procedural obstacles presented have thus far thwarted a determination on the merits.”
The judges, he said, threw out the Lance v. Dennis case because they said individuals don’t have a right to claim that the legislature must draw the district boundary lines.
The case is the Republicans’ last attempt to reinstate a redistricting plan drawn by the Republican-controlled legislature in the waning days of the 2003 legislative session. Democrats successfully challenged the 2003 map, which was intended to replace a 2002 map drawn by the courts.
Jason Dunn, a deputy attorney general whose office defended Secretary of State Gigi Dennis, said he was “pleased with the result” and would continue to fight if Zakhem appeals.
