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Judge hears redistricting arguments

Opening arguments were held Tuesday for the congressional redistricting lawsuit.  The suit is being held in lower court because the Missouri Supreme Court ordered a review of the redrawn map.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that the state constitution requires Missouri’s congressional districts to be as compact as possible, and that the map passed by lawmakers last year fails that test.  Jim Layton, arguing for the state, told Judge Daniel Green that drawing a map that would meet everyone’s definition of compactness is impossible.

“The question before you, your Honor, will be:  Have these plaintiffs proven (that) the HB193 plan does not fall into the acceptable range?  And frankly, I don’t believe they can do it," Layton said.

Missouri is losing a congressional district due to slow population growth. The State Supreme Court has given Judge Green until Friday to render a decision.

The court hearing will continue Wednesday.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.