A federal judge with ties to Democrats in the last fight over drawing U.S. House district lines a decade ago in South Carolina will not be part of the panel reviewing new district lines.
COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- A federal judge with ties to Democrats in the last fight over drawing U.S. House district lines a decade ago in South Carolina will not be part of the panel reviewing new district lines.
U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel has removed himself from a three-judge panel handling the case.
Gergel signed an order Tuesday saying that people might view his involvement on behalf of former Gov. Jim Hodges in 2002 as a sign of partiality. Gergel said it was important that people have confidence in the fairness of the judicial process.
The GOP-controlled Legislature approved U.S. House lines after the 2000 census that Democratic Gov. Hodges vetoed. Gergel was Hodges' lead lawyer when the case went to court.
Gergel has been replaced by U.S. District Judge Patrick Duffy.
Any change to the state's election law must be cleared by the Justice Department under the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The redistricting plan was originally approved by the Department of Justice in October. You can read the DOJ approval letter here.
The district lines can be reviewed at the offices of the House and Senate judiciary committees or online by clicking here.
Do you think the congressional districts are fairly drawn? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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