NC Supreme Court: Justice Paul Newby can hear election districts case

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / December 18, 2012

 Justice Newby


WWAY 12/18/12

RALEIGH, NC (AP) -- The North Carolina Supreme Court says Justice Paul Newby can consider a lawsuit challenging the way election districts are drawn.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported the court has rejected a request from the state NAACP, Democrats and others that Newby withdraw from the case.

North Carolina NAACP president William Barber says the groups are disappointed with Monday's decision, but think they still have a strong case that the election districts were improperly drawn.

The groups say the state legislative and congressional district boundaries are illegal because they limit black voters' influence on the election process.

The groups had asked that Newby not participate because of political donations they say link people and groups that helped draw the new lines with independent campaign spending for Newby.
ith independent campaign spending for Newby.