Minority rights groups say Gov. Rick Perry's narrow summer mandate to the Texas Legislature appears to block any changes to disputed political boundaries.
Federal judges in San Antonio on Wednesday weighed what effect a special 30-day legislative session will have on an ongoing lawsuit over Texas voting maps. Perry has ordered the Legislature to ratify voting maps drawn by the federal court last year.
Perry's instructions, however, said nothing about considering changes.
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus is one of nine plaintiffs that sued the state over what they claim are discriminatory maps that ignores how minorities are driving a booming Texas population.
Attorney Joe Garza told the court that constraints placed by the state are "problematic."
State attorneys say ratifying the maps would appear to make the lawsuit moot.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.