Hearings end on reapportionment challange

Testimony has wrapped up in the trial of a lawsuit by Democrats that challenged the process used by the Alabama Legislature to redraw the state's 105 House and 35 Senate districts. A panel of three federal judges Tuesday ordered attorneys for both sides to prepare proposed orders by Aug. 21 of how they would like U.S. Circuit Judge Bill Pryor and District Judges Myron Thompson and Keith Watkins to rule. Attorneys for the Democrats argued the Legislature "stacked and packed" Democrats into predominantly black districts, diluting the strength of black voters. Republican state Sen. Gerald Dial of Lineville was in charge of a committee that drew Senate districts. He testified the districts were drawn after numerous public hearings and there was no attempt to stack them in favor Republicans.