Redistricting: Court orders WA panel chair to detail work

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The state Supreme Court has ordered the chair of Washington’s Redistricting Commission to detail what actions the panel took earlier this week when it missed a deadline to approve new political maps. Because the commission failed to meet its deadline of 11:59 p.m. Monday the high court justices will now take over the complex job of creating 10 U.S. House districts and 49 state legislative districts, with a new deadline of April 30. Earlier Thursday, members of the commission acknowledged their work was “chaotic” but urged the court to accept their tardy final product. The court told the chair of the panel to file a sworn declaration by noon Monday.