WASHINGTON (AP) _ A judge presiding over the Texas redistricting trial in Washington says she’s skeptical that a top Texas legislative staffer rarely consulted with elected officials when drawing the new map.
U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer is one of three judges considering whether the Texas Legislature violated the U.S. Voting Rights Act when drawing the new district lines. She says she “finds it difficult” to believe that staff didn’t regularly consult with top lawmakers when redrawing the Texas map.
Texas House staffer Gerardo Interiano testified Wednesday that there were few matters in the process that required him to talk to Republican House leaders as he drew the map. He says most key questions were hashed out by staff and that he believes the Texas map was drawn fairly and without racial bias.
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