California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Democrats Seek New Remap Panel

Most of California’s Democratic members of Congress asked a federal judge Monday to shift authority over reapportionment from the state Supreme Court to a three-judge federal panel. In a U.S. District Court suit, 23 of the 26 Democrats in California’s House delegation said the state court and its newly appointed panel of retired judges were not equipped for the complex task of drawing new lines for the state’s congressional districts. Those districts will increase from the current 45 to 52 because of population gains. They must be virtually identical in population and must also comply with the federal Voting Rights Act, which prohibits weakening minorities’ voting power. The Democrats accused Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, who asked the state Supreme Court to take over reapportionment, of being derelict in his duty to ensure the enactment of a congressional reapportionment plan that complies with federal law.