Court Battle Over Congressional Maps Begins

DENVER (AP) - Colorado's political parties are going to court this week to make their pitch for drawing new congressional maps.

A Denver District Court judge will begin hearing arguments Tuesday on the redistricting process required every 10 years to reflect updated Census statistics. Democrats and Republicans sued after the Legislature failed to agree on drawing new districts this spring.

The court will have about a half dozen maps to consider in a trial expected to last two weeks.

Republicans accuse Democrats of trying to draw new state districts to gain more congressional seats. Democrats say their goal is to make more races competitive.

The outcome of the case could affect whether voters send a majority Democrat or Republican delegation to Washington after the 2012 races.

By IVAN MORENO, Associated Press

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)