WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has blocked the use of Texas state legislative and congressional district maps that were drawn by federal judges to boost minorities’ voting power.
The court issued a brief order Friday that applies to electoral maps drawn by federal judges in San Antonio for the Texas Legislature and Congress. The justices said they will hear arguments in the case Jan. 9.
Texas says the federal judges overstepped their authority and should have taken into account the electoral maps that were drawn by the Republican- dominated Texas Legislature.
The order brings to a halt filing for legislative and congressional primary elections that began Nov. 28.
The maps issued by the judges ensured minorities were the majority in three additional Texas districts, an outcome the judges said reflected the growth in the state’s Latino population. The Associated Press
