RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A judge has ruled that current and former Virginia state senators are in contempt for not providing records related to a redistricting lawsuit.
W. Reilly Marchant ruled Thursday that each senator in contempt should be assessed a $100-a-day fine but suspended the fines until an appeals court weighs in.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Marchant's ruling was expected and lawyers for the group of senators want the Virginia Supreme Court to decide whether the lawmakers' communications with outside consultants should be shielded from disclosure.
Virginia's 2011 redistricting effort has come under fire from critics who say the lines were unfairly drawn to favor incumbents, and outside groups have challenged the current district boundaries in both state and federal court.