Georgia Supreme Court to hear appeal in redistricting lawsuit

ATHENS - As the final hours of campaigning wind down in the hotly-contested race for the GOP nomination for the state Senate seat from Gainesville, the state Supreme Court is poised to hear an appeal of a lawsuit over the makeup of the district.

The state's highest court will hear an appeal in October in a lawsuit that challenges changes to three northeast Georgia state Senate districts - including Gainesville's 49th.

Republicans redrew the districts earlier this year, including dividing Clarke County - a move Democrats who make up a majority of the voters in Clarke contend disenfranchises them.

But, a superior court judge ruled state lawmakers are free to change district lines at any time, even if they intend to benefit one party over another.