A trial that will determine Colorado’s political landscape for the next decade kicks off today as Republicans and Democrats battle over how to redraw Colorado’s seven congressional districts.
The legal challenge pits a map from Democrats that drastically changes the current boundaries to create more competitive districts against a Republican map billed as “minimum disruption” because it follows the status quo.
In addition, other parties that later joined the lawsuit will push their proposals. Two Latino groups introduced a map that creates Latino communities of interest, while the Pueblo district attorney wants to make sure southern Colorado’s needs are considered.
The trial in Denver District Court is expected to last two weeks and possibly could run into evenings or Saturdays, Chief Judge Robert Hyatt has told the parties.
Every decade, the legislature must redraw congressional districts to reflect population shifts over the past 10 years. The 2011 Colorado Legislature — with Republicans in control of the House and Democrats in charge of the Senate — could not agree on boundaries, so the issue wound up in court.
“The issue of whether or not Colorado ought to have some competitive districts is going to be front and center before the court,” said Mark Grueskin, attorney for the seven Democratic plaintiffs — one from each congressional district.
“The value of having honest competition in congressional elections can’t be disputed,” Grueskin said. “We think that the reluctance of the Republican plaintiffs to even be open to competitive districts is pretty compelling.”
The biggest change in the Democratic proposal moves U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, an Aurora Republican, from a Republican-heavy district into a new swing district.
Richard Westfall, who represents the seven Republican plaintiffs, said an expert will refute the idea of using competitiveness as a criterion.
“The court does not need to do wholesale surgery to Colorado’s existing districts to draw a plan that is constitutional,” he said.
The trial begins today with opening statements from attorneys for the Republicans and Democrats, and from the parties that later joined the lawsuit: the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the Colorado Latino Forum, the city of Aurora, Pueblo District Attorney Bill Thiebaut and Douglas County.
Because of a scheduling issue, Douglas County’s witnesses will go first.
The Democrats’ witnesses are expected to be on the stand for portions of today and Friday and all day Wednesday and Thursday. The Republicans’ witnesses are scheduled for Friday afternoon and all of Monday and Tuesday of the following week.
Democrats held five of the seven congressional seats seats before the 2010 election but now hold three seats after two incumbents were knocked off.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
