The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
As a federal court considers whether to insert itself into New Mexico’s battle over redistricting of state House seats, a state district judge is moving ahead with his proposal to redraw the House boundaries as ordered by the N.M. Supreme Court.
You can view District Judge James Hall’s two proposals here and here.
From the Albuquerque Journal:
“A judge is proposing two alternate approaches to redrawing the map of 70 state House districts, including a plan to consolidate the seat now held by House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Námbe, with that of another longtime Democratic lawmaker.
“Luján’s seat wasn’t in play earlier as the Legislature, and then a state district court, came up with new maps. But Luján’s recent announcement that he has advanced lung cancer and will not run for re-election apparently has changed the terrain.”
Earlier this month, the state’s high court rejected the plan Hall previously approved that was proposed by the governor. Hall has until Feb. 27 to finalize a new plan. In the meantime, Republicans are appealing the Supreme Court’s decision, and a panel of three federal judges is considering whether to intervene.