Judge to hear arguments in districting suit

HELENA - Two arms of state government square off in court Thursday in a legal battle over the fate of a plan that redraws Montana's legislative boundaries following the 2000 census.

The Democratic-controlled commission that crafted the plan contends an attempt to destroy it is an unconstitutional effort at a political coup by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Republican Secretary of State Bob Brown counters that the plan itself was an illegitimate proposal designed to give Democrats an edge in future elections, and the Legislature's passage of a bill to force changes in the plan was a pro...