[JURIST] The US Supreme Court Monday granted certiorari in four consolidated cases concerning a 2003 Texas electoral redistricting plan [official website] strongly supported by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay that effectively reduced the number of Democratic US Representatives from the state and increased the Republican majority in the House. As revealed by press reports earlier this month, the plan was initially rejected [JURIST report; PDF memo text] by US Department of Justice staff responsible for oversight under the 1965 Voting Rights Act but was later approved by senior DOJ officials. Despite claims that it was partisan, politically motivated and diluted minority votes, it was mostly recently upheld [JURIST report; PDF ruling] as constitutional in June by a panel of three Texas federal court judges.

10:33 AM ET – Arguments in the case are expected to be set for next April. Reuters has more.