Judge upholds Mo. congressional redistricting map

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A state trial judge has upheld Missouri's new congressional map, rejecting arguments that the redrawn districts do not meet the requirements of the state constitution.

The new eight-district U.S. House map was challenged in two lawsuits that claimed districts were not sufficiently compact.

Cole County Circuit Judge Dan Green rejected the argument in a ruling Friday, following a three-day hearing this week.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs say they're likely to appeal Green's ruling next week to the Missouri Supreme Court, which had ordered the legal review of the new map.

Missouri's congressional districts were redrawn last year to reflect changes in the population and the state's loss of a ninth congressional district. The Republican-controlled Legislature enacted the plan after overriding Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's veto.