By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – A legal challenge against Alabama's legislative districts will be modeled on one from Georgia. Former Criminal Appeals Court Judge Mark Montiel says he plans to file a federal court suit within a couple of weeks based on the Georgia decision. A recent federal court decision threw out Georgia's redesigned legislative districts. The legislatures in Alabama, Georgia and several other states had to draw new legislative districts after the 2000 Census. In Alabama and Georgia, Democrats controlled the process. Marty Connors, chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, says the G-O-P is reviewing the Georgia decision and is seriously considering a similar lawsuit. Democratic Party spokesperson Jim Wrye says Alabama's districts have already survived two lawsuits challenging their constitutionality. The Legislature will use the district designs during the 2006 and 2010 elections.