Denver - Today the U.S Supreme Court, ruling in Lance v. Coffman, put to rest complaints arising from Colorado's 2002 redistricting process. The court dismissed an appeal of a U.S. District Court decision, finding that the appeal was "precisely the kind of undifferentiated, generalized grievance about the conduct of government that we have refused to countenance in the past."

"I am glad that this long saga is finally concluded and that the U.S. Supreme Court has stood by the Colorado Court's district plan which has been in effect for several years," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. "The suit dismissed today was an overtly partisan power-grab and a waste of taxpayers' dollars."

The complaint originated when the Colorado Supreme Court in 2003 enjoined an attempt by then-Governor Bill Owens and the state legislature to replace Colorado's Congressional District map, ratified in 2002 by a Colorado Court, with a new district plan. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Owens' and the legislature's plan violated the Colorado Constitution, which permits redistricting only once every decennial census.

"I am thankful that this sad chapter in Colorado's history is final over," said Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO). "The U.S. Supreme Court solidly repudiated Republican attempts to subvert our democratic process and their decision is a solid victory for all Coloradoans."

"Politics should be about debating ideas," said Waak. "It shouldn't be about playing games with democracy itself. Today the U.S. Supreme Court agreed."