Redistricting's fate may hinge on whether new map is biased

[Judi Lynn]

March 1, 2006, 10:45PM
Redistricting's fate may hinge on whether new map is biased
Though it isn't clear how the top court will rule, its key centrist voter expresses concern


By PATTY REINERT
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - U.S. Supreme Court justices reviewing the bitterly disputed Texas congressional district lines appeared reluctant Wednesday to throw out the Republican-friendly map on the grounds that political gerrymandering had gone too far.

But Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is expected to provide the pivotal vote on the matter as a court centrist, made clear the map could be rejected for another reason: Some districts redrawn by the Texas Legislature in 2003 may violate the federal Voting Rights Act by discriminating against minority voters.

In particular, Kennedy said he was concerned that Republican state lawmakers removed 100,000 Latino voters from the 23rd District in South Texas and made sure it remained 50.9 percent Latino to "make it look good."

"It seems to me that's an affront and an insult," he said.

Chief Justice John Roberts asked what percentage of minority voters would be sufficient to deem the district mostly minority.

"What's the magic number?" he asked.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/3695324.html

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. "Biased" in the Land of the "Free" and the Home of the "Brave"?

.
.
.

nah

I find that hard to believe . . .

:eyes:

[bullimiami]

2. No. It depends on if the "Justices" are biased.

[Tiggeroshii]

3. well... if they redistricted off of race at all

that's illegal. keeping a specific number of hispanics in there fora ny reason would undoubtedly interfere with the civil rights act of 1965. I have a good feeling the redistricting might get changed back.

[acmejack]

4. I bet you dollars to donuts they let this joke stand

The Roberts Court will deliver it's first, of many, slap downs to democracy.

[Bandit]

5. GOP biased.....impossible

:shrug: There will never be a Supreme Court case that doesn't side with the Republican agenda. Those days are gone.

[drm604]

6. If Kennedy is talking like this

then I actually have some hope.