U.S. Supreme Court upholds New York redistricting changes

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed Monday a lower ruling upholding changes that New York state made to congressional and legislative districts following the 2000 census.

Plaintiffs including blacks, Hispanics and white New York voters brought lawsuits against Gov. George Pataki and the state Legislature in January 2002, charging a constitutional violation.

But the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled that the redistricting maintains the equality of population, preserves the cores of existing districts and complies with the requirements of the Voting Rights Act.

One member of the high court, Justice John Paul Stevens, wanted his colleagues to hear arguments in the appeal.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--redistricting1129nov29,0,4698170.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire