U.S. Supreme Court hears Arizona redistricting case

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court, unwilling to limit partisan influence in redistricting in earlier cases, now seems poised to stop states that have tried to take matters into their own hands by removing map-drawing power from elected lawmakers.

The justices heard arguments Monday in a challenge to Arizona’s independent redistricting commission’s drawing of U.S. House seats in a case that could also affect a dozen other states, including California.

The big issue before the court is whether voters can take away the power given by the U.S. Constitution to elected state legislatures to decide how members of the U.S. House are elected.

The court’s conservative justices indicated that they think the answer is no. And some liberal justices also seemed troubled by arguments put forth by lawyers for the Obama administration and the Arizona commission.

A decision is expected before July.