A judicial panel has refused the state’s request to stay its ruling that invalidated two of Texas’ 36 Congressional districts. The federal panel found the state’s 2013 boundaries for congressional districts violated federal law because it intentionally discriminated against minorities by diluting their vote in District 35, held by Democrat Lloyd Doggett of Austin, and District 27, represented by Republican Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday appealed last week’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, declined the judges’ offer to fix the violations during a special Legislative session, and asked the panel to stay the ruling.
The panel said it instead will forge ahead with the next step — a hearing in early September to consider remedial plans from the plaintiffs to fix the map, and will also ponder the state’s remedies, if it offers any of its own given its appeal.
“The parties are ordered to proceed with preparations for the remedial hearing as previously directed,” U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez wrote on behalf of the three-judge panel.
Full Article: S.A. panel denies state’s bid to postpone redistricting ruling – San Antonio Express-News.
