Published 41 minutes ago • loading... • Updated 49 minutes ago
Federal judge allows Missouri’s top court to hold contempt hearing in redistricting dispute
The dispute pits state and federal orders against each other over a Trump-backed map that could shape Missouri’s November congressional election.
On Thursday, a federal judge allowed the Missouri Supreme Court to proceed with a contempt hearing for Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins regarding his defiance of court orders on Trump-backed congressional districts.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that the new districts never became law, ordering use of the 2022 map and requiring State Denny Hoskins to place the redistricting referendum on the November ballot.
District Judge Stephen Clark on Tuesday barred Hoskins from using any other map, while the revised districts target a Kansas City-based seat held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver to help Republicans gain one House seat.
The Supreme Court is simultaneously considering a request to block Clark's order, while state attorneys representing Hoskins asked Clark to halt the contempt hearing.
Following Texas, Missouri is the second Republican-led state to enact new districts after Trump urged Republicans to redraw House districts for midterm advantage, a battle spanning over a year.