The interim plans were drawn because Texas Republicans failed to gain timely approval that the maps were compliant with Section 5 of the US Voting Rights Act. Section 5 review was stalled by a series of delay tactics employed by Texas Republican leaders.
At the time the interim maps were drawn, Section 5 review by the District Court in Washington, DC was in the very early stages, and the primary date for the 2012 Texas primary elections was rapidly approaching. Now, however, the DC legal proceedings are underway, and a decision is expected by mid-February. While no one can predict precisely, it is likely that the San Antonio court will wait for the Section 5 review to be completed and then draw new district boundaries correcting any Voting Rights Act violations identified by the DC court.
Assuming the San Antonio court waits for a decision from the DC court, a hearing on remedial plans to be used for 2012 will be held in San Antonio. The San Antonio court will then order new maps that comply with the US Voting Rights Act and the US Constitution.
