CHRIS TOMLINSON, Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal court has ordered Texas to use political maps drawn by the Legislature this year for holding the 2014 elections, but only on an interim basis.
The three-judge panel in San Antonio issued the ruling Friday, giving both sides in the lawsuit over Texas’ voting maps reason to claim victory.
The court denied the state’s request to throw out the lawsuit brought by civil rights groups. They say the Legislature intentionally discriminated against minorities in 2011 and needs federal supervision.
But the court also ordered the state to use maps the Legislature adopted in 2013, which almost perfectly mirror maps the court drew for the 2012 elections.
Civil rights groups had wanted the court to draw new maps, but that would have delayed the March 4 primary elections.