Judge throws out Oakland County redistricting law

LANSING (AP) -- A judge has thrown out a law handing power to Oakland County's Republican-controlled Board of Commissioners to draw its own districts. Ingham County Circuit Court Judge William Collette ruled Wednesday that the law passed last year by the GOP-controlled Legislature was unconstitutional and an unfunded mandate. He also says the law impinges on Oakland County voters' rights to petition for judicial review of the reapportionment plan. A redistricting map already had been drawn up by a bipartisan county apportionment committee consisting of the Democratic county prosecutor and treasurer, the Republican county clerk and the heads of the county Republican and Democratic parties. Republicans lost a court challenge to that map and turned to legislators to change the law. It's unclear if they'll appeal. Oakland County Democrats are welcoming the ruling. Published: Fri, Feb 17, 2012