By Brent Kendall
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday threw out interim electoral maps a Texas federal court had adopted for the state’s upcoming elections.
The high court, in an 11-page unsigned opinion, said the lower court failed to pay sufficient attention to the state Legislature’s objectives when drawing up the interim maps. The justices sent the case back for further proceedings.
The Texas court adopted the interim map while the state and civil-rights groups continued their legal battle over new congressional maps adopted by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature.
Civil-rights groups allege the new district maps don’t properly account for the rapid growth of the state’s minority population.
The redistricting litigation has created a tumultuous election season in Texas, with candidates still unsure of the districts they are vying to represent — or whether they will run at all.
