Redistricting uncertainty rises with Roberts’ request
Published 5:34 pm Wednesday, February 10, 2016
RALEIGH (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court’s pace in considering a request to delay a lower-court decision ordering new North Carolina congressional maps by next week will keep voters guessing longer whether they’ll be casting ballots for U.S. House seats next month.
State attorneys filed an emergency request to let the current boundaries be used in the March 15 primary elections. So Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday told lawyers who sued to overturn the 1st and 12th Districts to respond to the stay application by next Tuesday.
The wait increases chances that the General Assembly will have to reconvene before the court rules to draw new districts.
House Speaker Tim Moore told colleagues earlier to prepare for a possible special redistricting session next week. Gov. Pat McCrory would probably call that session.
