Judges Seem Not To Like The State’s Map

Pairing of incumbents and eleminating Lloyd Doggett’s base in Travis County are unnecessary components of a new redistricting map, U.S. District Judge Patrick Higginbotham suggusted today during arguments on how to remedy Texas’ unconstitutional 23rd Congressional District.

Solicitor General Ted Cruz, of course, defended the state’s map:

Cruz denied that the state Republican leadership was trying to target Doggett when it drew its map. He said the state did not know Doggett had moved from East Austin and would be paired with Smith under its proposal.

Cruz also criticized plans by Latino groups and Democratic organizations — who were scheduled to make their arguments in court later today — for trying either to add too many Latino districts or gain a partisan advantage. He urged the justices to do no political harm.

The court’s role, he argued, is “to cure a violation in (District) 23 and, other than that, like a physician, do no harm,” Cruz said.

Cruz said that in fixing the District 23 problem, the court should not hurt U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, whose border district is where the Republican leadership cut 100,000 Latinos to make his district more Republican.

Higginbotham seemed to suggest his thinking — if not the panel’s — on the matter.

He suggested redrawing Doggett’s existing district, which runs from Austin to the Mexico border, to contain more of Travis County. He then suggested making Webb County the political base for a South Texas district represented by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.

“Why should a Latino community have to come to Austin?” Higginbotham asked.

Higginbotham also grilled Cruz about the elimination of Doggett’s base in Travis County.

“Why is that necessary?” he asked.

Cruz defended it, saying the state was trying to make the districts more compact.

Wait just one minute. Previously, the AG’s office said that they believed Lloyd Doggett didn’t live in Travis County. Why aren’t they still using that argument?

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