A surprising decision today in a federal lawsuit over state redistricting maps. WisPolitics reports that federal Judge J.P Stadtmueller tells all parties to get together, and determine whether the Legislature can come up with a plan to address the two key issues in the lawsuit — disenfranchisement of minority voters, and 300,000 residents who will go six years between voting for a state senator.
Stadtmuller says leadership — including the governor, attorney general and others — must decide by 5:30 this afternoon whether they can reach a deal and try to work things out. If the Legislature does try, they would have four weeks to finalize a new map. The trial would then resume March 12 or 19, Stadtmuller says.
Attorneys representing groups involved in the suit had little to say about the judge’s directive.
