Lawsuit Over Greensboro Redistricting Heads To Court

A lawsuit over changes to Greensboro's political districts heads to federal court Monday as the city tries to stop a law that shifts more than just boundary lines.   

The 2015 law makes sweeping changes to how the city's leaders are elected, removing at-large council members and giving the mayor a vote only in tie-breaking situations.

The law also made Greensboro the only city in the state to require legislative approval to change its structure.

The city council didn't ask for the changes and voted 8-1 to sue shortly after the measure passed.

The News & Record of Greensboro reports that the city has won an early round even before the case gets in full swing. Last week, Judge Catherine Eagles ruled the city wouldn't have to wait until 2021 for a referendum on how city voters pick their council.

There is no jury in the case, so the decision will come down to Judge Eagles.

The original bill was sponsored by state Sen. Trudy Wade (R-27), which made her a target for criticism. In November, Wade defeated Democratic challenger Michael Garrett 53-47 in one of the closest state senate races in North Carolina.