Conyers plans hearings on voting rights

WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers is planning hearings into a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that reduces the scope of the Voting Rights Act.

"We're trying to understand the parameters of the setback," Conyers, D-Mich., was quoted as saying Wednesday by The Hill.

The newspaper reported the high court's 5-4 decision Monday said the Voting Rights Act does not require states to draw "crossover" districts that would include enough voters who would vote for minority candidates to allow the minority bloc to elect a minority candidate.

The Hill noted that the court's decision, written by Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, could have a significant impact on the 2010 process of redistricting.