HoustonChronicle.com reports that a Federal panel has again upheld the Texas redistricting plan:

A three-judge federal panel Thursday upheld the Texas congressional redistricting plan, likely sending the case back to the U.S. Supreme Court for review.

The ruling means the Texas congressional districts used in the 2004 elections will remain in place at least through next year’s elections unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes. Federal courts usually do not halt elections while a redistricting case is being considered.

Texas Republicans had claimed throughout the redistricting battle that they were merely upholding their Constitutional duty that the state come up with a redistricting plan every ten years instead of letting a panel of federal judges do it. After losing that battle, Texas Democrats started claiming that the new districts diluted minority voting strength and were unconscionable gerrymanders.

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