[EM] Alaska Court Rejects Redistricting

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

A report from the outer real world of gerrymanders.

Which State will be the last to have its brand new post- 2000 Census minority 
rule gerrymanders in force ???
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Alaska Court Rejects Redistricting
  
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The Alaska Supreme Court rejected the state's 
redistricting map and sent it back to the state panel that drew it to be 
reworked. 

The map, which was approved by the five-member Redistricting Board last June, 
faced nine legal challenges from individuals, the Republican Party and 
several cities and boroughs. 

Plaintiffs argued that the 40-district map failed to satisfy state 
constitutional requirements that state legislative districts be compact, of 
equal population and socially and economically integrated. 

Republicans also complained that the map pitted 20 GOP incumbents against 
each other in the 2002 election. 

The 4-1 court ruling struck down 19 House districts and ordered three others 
reviewed. 

``We obviously feel we have been vindicated,'' plaintiffs' lawyer Michael 
White said after the decision Thursday. 

Board lawyer Philip R. Volland was unavailable for comment. 

The Redistricting Board is appointed by the governor, who names two members, 
and the Senate president, House speaker and Supreme Court chief justice, who 
each appoint one member.