NAACP and other voting rights groups appeal GOP-drawn districts

[octoberlib]

RALEIGH — The state NAACP, a group of Democratic voters and other voter-rights organizations are taking their fight against the legislative and congressional boundaries drawn by Republicans to the state’s highest court.

“We know, without a doubt that the battle for voting rights is one that must be won,” the Rev. William Barber, head of the state NAACP, said on the Wake County courthouse steps on Monday. “We know we’re in a battle for the ballot.”

Their notice of appeal comes two weeks after a panel of three Superior Court judges validated the legislative and congressional districts intended to be used through the 2020 elections. They had 30 days to decide whether to appeal to the N.C. Supreme Court.

The NAACP, Democrats and voter-rights organizations challenging the maps argue that they are racial gerrymanders designed to weaken the influence of black voters.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/22/3048161/naacp-and-other-voting-rights.html#storylink=cpy

[John2]

1. Who are the three

judges and are they Republican?

[octoberlib]

2. Hinton was appointed by Easley but I can't find info on the other two.

The ruling pointed out that each judge "independently and collectively arrived at the conclusions" set out in the decision, despite their "differing ideological and political outlooks." The judges — Paul Ridgeway of Wake County, Alma Hinton of Halifax County and Joseph Crosswhite of Iredell County — were appointed by Chief Justice Sarah Parker to hear the case.