Brendan J. Lyons reports in the Times Union that Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a brief April 7 in support of a Democrat-led court fight seeking to force the redrawing of New York's congressional boundaries in time for next year's election. The boundaries were redrawn after the 2020 census with court orders and controversy, and aren't scheduled to be drawn again until after the 2030 census count. The state's Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee brought a lawsuit in a state appellate court in Albany to have the Independent Redistricting Commission redraw the lines before the 2024 Congressional elections. James said in a statement that, “Our state’s constitution makes it clear that an independent body, with participation from the general public, is charged with drawing maps for congressional districts,.... Relying on a process with no accountability and with limited time for public input is not how we engage the public and ensure their interests are addressed throughout this process.” But so far the Democrats have not persuaded the court, as on Sept. 12, state Supreme Court Justice Peter A. Lynch rejected the petition and said there was no authority for the redistricting commission to issue a second map. So the Democrats are now appealing, under the blessing of the state's highest elected Democrats, Hochul and James. Read more about this story in the Times Union.