Court fight over congressional redistricting begins

A legal battle over Arizona’s latest once-a-decade redistricting process is under way, the latest chapter in a high-stakes process for politicians and their parties.

Lawyers pressing a Republican-backed lawsuit challenging the new congressional districts told a judge Wednesday that the case should be allowed to proceed because the state’s redistricting commission violated important procedural requirements that protect the public.

Commission lawyers want the judge to dismiss the suit. They say it’s based on unfounded allegations and asks courts to trample on the commission’s independent authority to draw congressional and legislative districts.

The case is one of three lawsuits challenging new districts that the commission drew during a lengthy and controversial process.

That controversy included a constitutional showdown over Gov. Jan Brewer’s failed attempt to remove the commission’s chairwoman.