TEXAS REDISTRICTING & ELECTION LAW

[Updated to add order]

The DC panel issued an order this morning denying the State of Texas’ request for summary judgment on preclearance of state house, state senate, and congressional maps.

The order states:

Having carefully considered the entire record and the parties’ arguments, the Court finds and concludes that the State of Texas used an improper standard or methodology to determine which districts afford minority voters the ability to elect their preferred candidates of choice and that there are material issues of fact in dispute that prevent this Court from entering declaratory judgment that the three redistricting plans meet the requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

The court said that a memorandum opinion further explaining its ruling would be forthcoming, but that the court wanted to issue its ruling promptly so that the San Antonio panel could draw a substitute interim plan for the 2012 election cycle.

Here’s a copy of the order denying summary judgment:

http://tinyurl.com/6vt95sk