Judge approves new legislative maps

Many politicos and outside observers expected U.S. District Judge Steve Jones to throw out Georgia’s newly redistricted maps, but on Thursday he upheld them, saying they “fully complied” with his mandate to draw more majority-Black districts.  The Obama appointee rejected lawsuits alleging that the new maps disenfranchised Black voters, meaning that the new maps will likely remain in place for next year’s elections.  By drawing new maps that fully met the court’s order to provide more Black-majority districts while maintaining their edge in the House and legislature, GOP officials who oversaw a successful redistricting process are RISING…