Courts steos in Colo. Redistricting Dispute

Court Steps in Colo. Redistricting Dispute Email this StoryFeb 21, 11:30 AM (ET) p {margin:12px 0px 0px 0px;} WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court has revived an attempt by Colorado Republicans to block a congressional election map. Justices on Tuesday gave Republicans a new chance to challenge boundaries drawn by a state judge in 2002. The judge handled the task because lawmakers could not agree on boundaries when the state received an additional congressional seat after the 2000 U.S. Census. In an unsigned opinion, justices said that a lower court was wrong to prevent the lawsuit. Justice John Paul Stevens filed a dissent, saying that a "spurious" claim was properly dismissed by the lower court. The Supreme Court is already hearing one dispute over district drawing, from the state of Texas, that involves a similar dispute. Arguments are next week. In both states, Republican lawmakers drew second maps to replace ones put in place by courts. The Colorado Supreme Court threw out the Republican map, finding that the state constitution allows redistricting only once a decade. Republicans brought a new challenge and lost before a three-judge federal panel. At issue before the Supreme Court was whether federal courts had jurisdiction. The case is Lance v. Dennis, 05-555.