The state supreme court has upheld Missouri’s new congressional districts and its new districts for the Missouri House of Representatives.,   

The rulings come  two months after filing for office ended and a little more than two months before the elections of candidates in those districts..

The key challenge to the Missouri House districts focused on the work of a judicial commission, arguing that the commission had violated the state’s open meetings law, which made the districts unconstitutional.

The court says the commission was within the law because it was a judicial entity that is allowed to meet behind closed doors, not working in an administrative capacity, which would have required openness.  The court also says the challengers did not prove that the redistricting plan is clearly unconstitutional.

The court was divided in its ruling upholding the congressional districts that had been challenged by two groups saying the districts were not as compact “as may be,” a phrase from the constitution..  Four of the seven judges say a lower court ruling upholding the map is correct because absolute precision in compactness is not required.  Two judges say the challengers did not prove the districts violate the U. S. Constitution.  The remaining judge says the fifth and sixth districts are unconstitutional.  The sixth district covers northwest Missouri.  The fifth is based in Kansas City but reaches out to involve three rural counties.

The court upheld state senate districts weeks ago