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Supreme Court refuses to hear Ill. redistricting challenge

The United States Supreme Court building in Washington, DC.
(via Flickr/Phil Roeder)
The United States Supreme Court building in Washington, DC.

Updated 11:49 a.m. May 22, 2012: The Associated Press issued a correction which is reflected here. Illinois' Hispanic population was previously stated as 32.5 percent, when it is, in fact, 15.8 percent.

The Supreme Court will not hear a challenge to redistricting in Illinois despite complaints from the League of Women Voters of Illinois that the new congressional and legislative lines are unconstitutional.

The high court on Monday turned away the lawsuit that complained the new congressional and legislative maps are unconstitutional because they assign voters to districts based on their political views and voting histories. A federal court threw out the group's lawsuit last year.

New maps are required every 10 years after the census reveals population shifts. Democrats drew them in Illinois because they control the Legislature and governor's office.

The maps force some Republicans into districts where they must run against other incumbents in 2012 and created just one Latino-majority district, although Illinois' Hispanic population is 15.8 percent.