A divided Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a Republican challenge to new state legislative district maps.
The GOP contended that the Democratic-controlled state House and Senate drew the boundaries to benefit Democratic candidates, in effect diluting the Republican vote. But they filed the challenge just six weeks before the March primary.
Democrats contended the suit was too little, too late, and the court agreed, dismissing the complaint. The four justices elected as Democrats voted in the majority - the three elected as Republicans were in the minority.
In a dissent, Republican justice Bob Thomas wrote that Republicans deserve their day in court. The suit was timely, he said, and even if it wasn't resolved in time for this fall's elections, the maps could be altered for later ones.
Republicans still have a challenge remaining in front of the US Supreme Court.
