US Supreme Court agrees to hear voting rights case out of New Hanover, Pender Counties

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a voting rights case out of New Hanover and Pender Counties. A group of Republican voters wants North Carolina State House and Senate districts redrawn. In a federal lawsuit filed in November the group argued that the districts are unconstitutional, because they dilute minority voting power. The outcome of the Supreme Court decision will determine whether State Legislators must redraw lines in the 18th district in time for the 2010 election. The suit cites a State Supreme Court ruling that said the General Assembly improperly split up Pender County between two house districts.