By KRWG News
New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) A state district court judge is allowing lawyers for Gov. Susana Martinez and other Republicans to obtain email, notes and other correspondence between lawmakers and a demographer hired by the Legislature to help with redistricting.
District Court Judge James Hall on Tuesday denied a request by Democratic legislative leaders to block the disclosure of certain information from consultant Brian Sanderoff, who helped legislators develop maps of proposed new districts for Congress, the Legislature and other political offices during a special session in September.
The Democratic leaders contended any communication between Sanderoff and legislators is confidential.
However, Hall ruled there was no privilege of confidentiality because the legislative leaders are using Sanderoff as an expert witness to testify in redistricting trials, which get under way next week.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG