Stay sought for legislative redistricting order

February   24 , 2004

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

Georgias attorney general asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to stay a federal appeals courts order requiring that new legislative districts be drawn in time for this years elections.

Last week, three judges of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned redistricting maps for Georgias state House and Senate, saying Democrats who drew them didnt try to make the populations of districts equal.

The judges gave the Legislature until March 1 to draw new maps. If lawmakers fail to do so, the court may draw the states maps itself. The Legislature, now split between a Republican-dominated Senate and a Democratic-majority House, has been working on new maps.

Secretary of State Cathy Coxs spokesman, Chris Riggall, said last week it would be difficult for new maps to be drawn and voting computers reprogrammed in time for elections this year.

State Attorney General Thurbert Baker indicated last week that he planned to file an appeal.

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