WASHINGTON, June 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Monday let stand a lower-court ruling throwing out a Republican redistricting plan in Colorado.
The action drew a dissent from Chief Justice William Rehnquist, joined by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. At least four votes are needed before the high court accepts a case for review.
In the case, the Supreme Court of Colorado ruled that the state's General Assembly cannot redraw congressional districts whenever it wants, saying the state Constitution limits redistricting to once per census.
Colorado gained a seventh seat in the U.S. House after the 2000 census.
In his dissent, Rehnquist said the U.S. Constitution leaves redistricting to state "legislatures." The Colorado high court interpreted the phrase "general assembly" in the state Constitution to include the state courts, he said, when it comes to redistricting.
Rehnquist said the U.S. Supreme Court should "review the Colorado state court's debatable interpretation of this provision of federal law."
