SCOTUS to review Texas gerrymandering

The Supreme Court will take up the redistricting plan implemented in Texas a few years ago.

Traditionally, congressional districts are redrawn every ten years in line with the census. Republicans in the Texas state legislature, led by Rep. Tom DeLay, decided not to wait until 2010 to redistrict the seats. Not surprisingly, it paid off. Republicans had a net gain of seats as a result in the 2004 elections.

Another twist to the story is that Justice Department lawyers believed the redistricting plan was unconstitutional. In the end, they were overruled and the plan went forward.