Judge tosses challenge to Arizona congressional map
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PHOENIX -- A judge has dismissed a Republican-backed lawsuit challenging Arizona's new map of congressional districts but said the challengers can start over.
The lawsuit contends that the state's redistricting commission violated important procedural requirements for drawing new congressional districts for use in elections in the coming decade.
The ruling released Tuesday by Judge Mark Brain of Maricopa County Superior Court dismissed the entire suit because he said it's too long and unclear on what's at issue. He ordered the challengers to file a new version by December.
Brain also said some parts of the suit are legally unfounded. For example, Brain said it's a judgment call for the commission on whether it had enough data to decide whether new districts satisfy the Voting Rights Act and provide enough competition between the parties.
