The circuit court was ordered to enter a judgment on the matter by Feb. 3 so that the Legislature could, in a timely fashion, "redistrict the state, if necessary." The state's candidate filing deadline is March 27.
"This decision by the Missouri Supreme Court is good news for voters in Missouri, who deserve fair representation," Carnahan said in a statement. "The Court has sent a clear signal that this lawsuit, brought on behalf of Missouri voters, has merit and deserves to be heard."
A voice mail left with Cleaver's office was not returned.
Arizona: Commission Approves Map Along Party Lines
The Independent Redistricting Commission gave final approval Tuesday to a Congressional map, according to the Arizona Republic News.
The vote fell along partisan lines, with two Democrats approving it and two Republicans voting against it. The tiebreaker independent vote, Colleen Mathis, voted with the Democrats.
The map now heads to the Justice Department, which will determine whether to grant the new plan preclearance. Arizona is one of less than a dozen states with maps that must receive federal approval before implementation under Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The vote concludes the cycle's nastiest redistricting battle. Republicans who controlled the state government were so angered with the map, the process and Mathis that they impeached her. But the vote was overturned by the state Supreme Court.
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