State Democrats moved forward in their case challenging the constitutionality of new legislative districts after a panel of judges ordered two people who helped draft the maps to give depositions.
Legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years to account for population changes. In 2011, the Republican-controlled legislature and governor’s office approved maps that favor their party.
Republicans have filed separate lawsuits that argue their maps should be used in the upcoming recall elections.
Three federal judges ruled Thursday that Joe Handrick, consultant with a firm hired by Republicans, and Tad Ottman, aide to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, must give depositions to the Democrat’s legal team.
The ruling came despite Republican efforts to suppress the subpoenas for testimony and documents by arguing attorney-client privilege and legislative immunity apply to Handrick and Ottman.
The judges also said that if they deem future attempts by Republicans to suppress subpoenas as being made in “bad faith”, Democrats would be awarded attorney fees.
