Florida Supreme Court asked to decide new map for Congress

A divided appeals court wants the Florida Supreme Court to decide if the state’s new congressional map is legal.

The 1st District Court of Appeal on Wednesday ruled to send the case up to the state’s highest court immediately instead of letting the appeals court review it. The ruling was decided 2-1 with one judge dissenting.

A Florida judge approved a new congressional map in August. The new map alters seven of the state’s existing 27 districts, but the changes will not take effect this year.

Voters in 2010 passed an amendment that says legislators cannot draw up districts to favor incumbents or a political party. A circuit judge in July ruled that two districts were invalid so legislators changed them.

A coalition of groups has challenged the maps.