Legislature wants to be dropped from federal redistricting lawsuit

The Republican-led Florida Legislature is asking a federal judge to dismiss the House and Senate from an ongoing lawsuit challenging the state’s congressional map.

Lawyers for the House and Senate filed the request Tuesday. The state Supreme Court last month approved a new map for Florida’s 27 congressional districts that will result in changes to the state’s political landscape.

A spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardiner said he does not see a reason for the Legislature to defend the court ruling.

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has filed a lawsuit that contends her new district violates federal voting laws and diminishes the voting clout of minorities. The new map shifts the district of the Jacksonville Democrat from one that runs north-south to one that stretches westward to Tallahassee.

Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner has asked that the lawsuit be dismissed.