A lawsuit over a Republican re-write of Texas's congressional districts roars back to life, today, in San Antonio's federal courthouse, 1200 WOAI news reports.
Last month, federal judges ruled that the way congressional boundaries are drawn dilutes the minority vote and, because of that, groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens want the three judge panel to step in.
"The plaintiffs involved in this case are asking the court to set an injunction to prevent the use of any of these maps in the 2018 election, LULAC attorney Luis Vera tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI.
The fractured maps have long been at the center of lawsuits by civil rights groups, who feel that republicans drew them in a way to separate minority communities. In Travis County, for example, the map is cut up into five different districts, without a single district in Austin. The court in San Antonio ruled that CD-23, which goes along the border, CD-27, which is around Corpus Christi and CD-35, which snakes the I-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin, are all in trouble.
The most pressing concern is, if those maps are put on hold, who will re-draw the boundaries.
Nina Perales, with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund says this needs to get done soon, so local elections coordinators can be ready.
"The court wants to know, from the different lawyers, what their ideas are for going forward."
What's up for debate is, will the boundaries be drawn by the current Republican-led Texas Legislature or the federal court. If it's left up to lawmakers, it would likely require a special session.