Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Court affirms Mississippi district lines

|
|
 
  
Published: Dec. 19, 2003 at 5:16 PM

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled state courts "have no role" in redrawing congressional district lines if legislators fail to act.

The decision results from an ongoing dispute over which map should have been used in congressional elections after two incumbent members of Congress were placed in the same district when Mississippi lost a seat following the 2000 census.

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports the court ruled it is proper for federal, rather than state courts, to take up the matter of drawing district lines if Mississippi's elected officials fail to complete the task on time.

At issue were competing maps that placed two incumbents -- Democrat Ronnie Shows and Republican Chip Pickering -- together in a new 3rd Congressional District.

The Mississippi Democratic Party sought to force the use of a map drawn by a Hinds County chancery judge favoring the Democrat. A competing map drawn by a federal court was said to favor the Republican, who won the election.

Topics: Chip Pickering
© 2003 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala
Indianapolis 500 Presidential Medal of Freedom Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Singer Janelle Monae arrives at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, California
View Caption
Singer Janelle Monae arrives for the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. UPI/Jim Ruymen
fark
The bar for spelling has never been lowre
Turns out men cheat way more than women after all
Famous last words: "The notion that it's too late to do anything is comical. It's hilarious. We're...
Five secrets to getting the best healthcare. #6: Don't get sick
Traveling to the U.S.? If invited to a dinner party, bring a gift of wine, but not cash or toiletries...
Man turns dead pet cat into remote-controlled helicopter, calls it art (w/WTF pics)