WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The Colorado State Supreme Court ruled Monday that a redistricting plan passed by the GOP-controlled legislature violated the state constitution. In a 5 to 2 ruling, the court found that the state constitution requires new district lines be put in place sometime during the period between the completion of the national census and the next national election.
If the Legislature fails to complete the task, the court found, then it forfeits the right to redraw the lines at a later date. Legislators could not agree on a redistricting plan after the 2000 census, forcing a Denver judge to draw the map for the state's seven congressional districts.
Republicans, who won a majority in both legislative chambers in 2002, argued they had the responsibility to redraw the federal lines to meet the Legislature's obligation under Colorado's constitution. The court rejected that argument and ordered the restoration of the lines used in the 2002 election. Colorado GOP leaders may take the issue to the United States Supreme Court while a pending lawsuit in U.S. federal court has yet to be resolved.
