House GOP files lawsuit challenging redistricting

FRANKFORT, Ky. - House Republicans hit hard in a contentious redistricting process struck back Thursday, filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly drawn legislative boundaries that they claim favor Democrats.

House GOP Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown and other GOP lawmakers asked for an injunction to delay implementing the measure and asked that next Tuesday's election filing deadline be postponed until the matter is resolved.

Judge Phillip Shepherd scheduled a hearing for 10:30 a.m. EST Monday to consider those issues.

"We have been saying for a couple of weeks now that not only was it unfair to the people of Kentucky, not only did it disenfranchise a lot of folks in Kentucky, but it was unconstitutional," Hoover told reporters outside Franklin County Circuit Court after the lawsuit was filed.

Frankfort attorney Jason Nemes, representing the Republicans, said the lawsuit could affect both House and Senate redistricting, plus judicial redistricting. All three were dealt with in the same redistricting plan.

"If one part of the bill is declared unconstitutional, then the whole bill is unconstitutional," Nemes said.Woman dies after being hit in southeastern Ky.