FRANKFORT, Ky. — Attorneys on both sides of the redistricting lawsuit in Kentucky say the new district boundaries passed by lawmakers will likely be the maps that candidates will run on in 2022.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate is on no tight deadline to rule on the case, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. All briefs and conclusions are due on June 15, which would be nearly a month after the May 17 primary.
Most involved in the case expect the matter will ultimately be decided before the Kentucky Supreme Court.
“Never say never, but I think given where we are today and the approaching primaries, it’s more likely that this case is going to govern future elections than 2022,” said Michael Abate, attorney for the Kentucky Democratic Party and a series of Franklin County-based citizen plaintiffs.
An attorney for the state, Deputy Attorney General Victor Maddox, added that it was a “safe bet” that the 2022 maps will not be affected by the lawsuit.
The lawsuit challenges the state House and congressional maps but not the state Senate map.
In three days of recent hearings before Wingate, the plaintiffs argued that the maps were unfair to Democrats. The state attempted to poke holes in the analysis of the Democrats’ expert witnesses.
RELATED STORIES
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.