City must respond to voting rights suit

The Texas Supreme Court has requested the city of Austin to respond to a petition filed with the court that would require the city to hold elections in all City Council districts this November. Under the city charter, districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9 and the mayor’s office are scheduled for an election this year. However, petitioners living in districts 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10 who were previously in other districts filed suit because, from their point of view, they are being denied the right to vote under the Texas Constitution. Judge Lora Livingston ruled in the city’s favor last month, rejecting arguments from the plaintiffs and their attorney, Bill Aleshire. Aleshire took the matter to the 3rd Court of Appeals, which also rejected the suit. It is now up to the Supreme Court, which requested that the city file its response by 4:30 p.m. on June 10.