FL Supreme Court Likely To Redraw Districts

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ It looks like it’s going to be up to the Florida Supreme Court to sort out what happens next in the tussle over the state’s congressional districts.

The court in July ordered the Florida Legislature to adopt a new map for the state’s 27 congressional districts.

But the House and Senate deadlocked over the issue during a 12-day special session that ended Friday.

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis was supposed to review the map passed by legislators.

But he said during a Tuesday court hearing he lacks the authority to do anything else.

Lewis said he will file a report telling the state Supreme Court that the Legislature has not complied with its order.

The court gave lawmakers 100 days to draw a map after finding the current districts violated voter-approved standards.

But the House and Senate sharply differed on changes proposed for central Florida and the Tampa Bay region.