By Mary Jo Pitzl | The Arizona Republic
The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to take up the Arizona Legislature’s argument that only state lawmakers have the authority to draw congressional boundaries.
But the court also wants to hear arguments on why the Legislature believes it has the legal standing to get involved in the case. Arguments could happen early in the new year.
At issue is the ongoing dispute over the nine congressional districts the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission drew in 2011. Arizona lawmakers argue the U.S. Constitution gives it, and only it, the power to draw those boundaries. But the commission argues voters delegated that lawmaking power to the redistricting commission when it created the commission in a 2000 ballot measure.
