Judge questions law tampering with districting plan

HELENA - A judge greeted with skepticism Thursday arguments by an attorney defending the Republican-run Legislature's effort to kill a Democratic-sponsored plan for redrawing legislative districts.

During a hearing, District Judge Dorothy McCarter challenged the assertion that legislators were acting within their constitutional power in changing the criteria for the plan after it was adopted by the Districting and Apportionment Commission in February.

She said constitutional provisions giving the commission its authority appear to be self-executing and, therefore, lawmakers cannot meddle by en...