ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - The Alaska Supreme Court rejected the state's redistricting map and sent it back to the state panel that drew it to be reworked. <br>
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The map, which was approved by the five-member Redistricting Board last June, faced nine legal challenges from individuals, the Republican Party and several cities and boroughs. <br>
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Plaintiffs argued that the 40-district map failed to satisfy state constitutional requirements that state legislative districts be compact, of equal population and socially and economically integrated. <br>
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Republicans also complained that the map pitted 20 GOP incumbents against each other in the 2002 election. <br>
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The 4-1 court ruling struck down 19 House districts and ordered three others reviewed. <br>
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``We obviously feel we have been vindicated,'' plaintiffs' lawyer Michael White said after the decision Thursday. <br>
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Board lawyer Philip R. Volland was unavailable for comment. <br>
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The Redistricting Board is appointed by the governor, who names two members, and the Senate president, House speaker and Supreme Court chief justice, who each appoint one member.
