Maryland Redistricting Suit to Proceed

A lawsuit that challenges the congressional district map of Maryland, drawn up by Democratic lawmakers following the 2010 census, will go forward, according to a three-judge panel which came down with a ruling on Wednesday. The redistricting basically ensured that seven of the state's eight congressional seats would remain under Democratic control. Steve Shapiro, the American University law student who filed the suit, alleges that the map violates the rights of 6th District Republican voters to political assocation and expression. It was first thrown out by a federal judge but the Supreme Court let Shapiro have a hearing with a three-judge panel.