Missouri's constitutional process was violated this year, when state lawmakers drew new congressional district boundaries - and when six appeals court judges drew new district boundaries for the state Senate, then replaced their first map with a second one.
Violating the Constitution was the main argument in three different cases presented Thursday morning at the Missouri Supreme Court, with lawyers for the attorney general's office and for the two lawmakers who headed the House and Senate redistricting committees saying the maps meet the Constitution's requirements.
And, with the Feb. 28 first day for candidates to file for office less than seven weeks away, judges were asking what the best remedy would be, if they decide the maps were not done properly.