Judge rules Missouri lawmakers can do mid-decade congressional redistricting

Opponents of the new map contended that lawmakers couldn't engage in mid-decade redistricting. But a Cole County judge ruled there's no explicit prohibition on the practice.

A Cole County judge ruled Tuesday that Missouri lawmakers can redraw congressional boundaries in the middle of the decade.

Soon after Missouri lawmakers passed their new congressional map, opponents of the plan sued in Cole County — contending that the Missouri Constitution only allows redistricting immediately after the completion of a census. It's one of the numerous lawsuits over the map that seeks to oust U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City.

But Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh ruled that even though there's no explicit authorization for mid-decade redistricting, there's no explicit prohibition, eithe