Arizona group may file redistricting suit in federal court

Wednesday, 21 April 2004

A largely Hispanic group [in Arizona] will likely go to federal court as early as this week seeking to get the state's new legislative boundaries cleared promptly to give election officials and candidates enough time to prepare for this fall's primary.

In a separate action Tuesday, the Independent Redistricting Commission, which carved the new court-ordered map, asked the U.S. Justice Department to sign off on the map by May 15.

Members of the Arizona Minority Coalition said there is no assurance that Justice Department officials will act promptly, which is why the group plans to ask the federal court to intervene. The coalition plans to file the legal action in U.S. District Court in Phoenix .