Court boundaries won't be redrawn this year

Louisiana lawmakers will not be redistricting the state Supreme Court and five appeals court districts during a special reapportionment session being held in March and April, according to a report on NOLA.com.

2010 census figures have called for the Louisiana legislature to hold a special session to lay down new districts for the state house and senate, as well as the courts, the school board and the Public Service Commission.

Senate Secretary Glenn Koepp told NOLA.com that the court boundaries don't need to be redrawn because they will not hold elections until 2012. The state senate has also asked the state Supreme Court and the five circuit courts of appeal to draft a plan for redistricting.

Recent census data showed that New Orleans has lost nearly 30 percent of its population over the past 10 years. Much of the loss is attributed to hurricane Katrina.

St. Tammany Parish, on the North side of Lake Ponchartrain from Orleans Parish, saw a 22 percent increase in its population since 2000.

St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes lost 47 percent and 14 percent of their population, respectively.