Earlier this week, a federal court approved new lines for New York’s congressional districts, setting up some intriguing primary races, and now the court is preparing for the possibility it may also have to redraw state legislative districts.

Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed off on new lines for State Senate and Assembly districts, seemingly ending the redistricting saga, but those lines still have some hurdles to overcome.

First, the U.S. Justice Department must certify that the lines conform with the Voting Rights Act.

Then the State Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit that the creation of a 63rd State Senate seat violates the state constitution and was done only to help the Republican majority retain power.

There is still a possibility these lines could be struck down and the courts would have to step in once again. So in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, a panel of federal judges directed a court-appointed expert to start looking at new state lines by April 9, a move cheered by civil rights groups.

“Today the court has agreed to hold onto the case just to make sure that if there’s a problem with the senate map, that the court will be ready to step in,” said Esmeralda Simmons of the Center for Law and Social Justice.

That same Brooklyn court has already created new congressional lines, setting the stage for some interesting primary races.

For example, Congressman Charles Rangel’s district has been redrawn to encompass a large chunk of the Bronx, which is now majority Hispanic.

(Source: NY1)