Judge orders new districts to be in place by late September

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – A Florida judge is telling the state Legislature it needs to have new maps for Congress finished and reviewed by a trial court by late September.

Circuit Judge George Reynolds issued his order Wednesday. It comes a few days after the state Supreme Court ruled the state’s congressional maps don’t meet the requirements of a voter-approved constitutional amendment that prohibits political lines from being drawn to favor incumbents or a political party.

The Florida Supreme Court gave the Republican-controlled Legislature 100 days to change the boundaries of eight existing districts. These changes could affect many more of the state’s 27 congressional districts.

Reynolds in his order said that legislators must have the new maps approved by Sept. 25. The judge asked both sides in the legal fight to submit proposed schedules.

Legislative leaders have not yet announced what they plan to do.