GOP lawyer to advise on redistricting

ATLANTA - Georgia legislative leaders, all Republicans themselves, are moving redistricting operations in-house and tapping a prominent GOP lawyer to advise the effort, The Associated Press has learned.

Redistricting in which new Census data is used to redraw congressional and legislative lines had been handled through a state contract with the University of Georgia's nonpartisan Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

But according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston are creating a Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office. The office will be staffed by many of the same employees from the Carl Vinson Institute.

Ann Lewis, counsel to the state Republican Party, will provide legal guidance for the effort.