A panel of federal judges is deliberating on whether California’s newly approved congressional district maps, passed with Proposition 50, violate the U.S. Constitution. The California Republican Party sued Gov. Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber over the maps after the election. The judges initially planned to announce their decision a week ago. They are expected to rule after a three-day hearing in the U.S. Central District Court of California earlier this month.The California Republican Party claims the maps were drawn to favor Latino voters over other races, while Democrats have said the maps were partisan and meant to counteract Republican-drawn districts in Texas, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld.”I am surprised that it’s been 10 days since they said they weren’t going to make their prior Friday deadline,” said Chris Micheli, an adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law. “However, I presume they’re writing a detailed analysis knowing that whichever side of the litigation is on the losing end is going to appeal to higher federal courts.”Micheli also suggested that the judges might be considering the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Texas maps. “I would presume that is the central focus of their decision at this stage because the high court spoke very clearly and referenced California’s action that is the voter approval of Prop 50,” he said. Newsom’s office and spokesman for the California Republican Party did not have any updates to share when reached by KCRA 3 on Monday. It’s not clear when exactly the judges will decide. In an interview with KCRA 3 last month, Mike Columbo, an attorney representing the CAGOP in the case said Republicans want a resolution as soon as possible, noting congressional candidates can formally begin campaigning on Dec. 19. He said Republicans have identified Feb. 7, 2026, as the “really hard date” for a decision. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channelPHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

A panel of federal judges is deliberating on whether California’s newly approved congressional district maps, passed with Proposition 50, violate the U.S. Constitution.

The California Republican Party sued Gov. Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber over the maps after the election.

The judges initially planned to announce their decision a week ago. They are expected to rule after a three-day hearing in the U.S. Central District Court of California earlier this month.

The California Republican Party claims the maps were drawn to favor Latino voters over other races, while Democrats have said the maps were partisan and meant to counteract Republican-drawn districts in Texas, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld.

“I am surprised that it’s been 10 days since they said they weren’t going to make their prior Friday deadline,” said Chris Micheli, an adjunct professor at McGeorge School of Law. “However, I presume they’re writing a detailed analysis knowing that whichever side of the litigation is on the losing end is going to appeal to higher federal courts.”

Micheli also suggested that the judges might be considering the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Texas maps.

“I would presume that is the central focus of their decision at this stage because the high court spoke very clearly and referenced California’s action that is the voter approval of Prop 50,” he said.

Newsom’s office and spokesman for the California Republican Party did not have any updates to share when reached by KCRA 3 on Monday.

It’s not clear when exactly the judges will decide.

In an interview with KCRA 3 last month, Mike Columbo, an attorney representing the CAGOP in the case said Republicans want a resolution as soon as possible, noting congressional candidates can formally begin campaigning on Dec. 19. He said Republicans have identified Feb. 7, 2026, as the “really hard date” for a decision.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel