The judge who struck down Florida's congressional district map has approved a new map redrawn earlier this month by state legislators.
Circuit Judge Terry Lewis gave his OK to redrawn map Friday, but said this year's elections will not use the new boundaries. Instead, voters will pick members of Congress based on the map Lewis declared invalid in July.
Lewis opted against calling a special election based on the new map, which was created during a special session he ordered earlier in August.
State legislators altered seven of 27 congressional districts — notably districts No. 5 (currently represented by Democrat Corrine Brown) and No. 10 (represented by Republican Daniel Webster) in Central Florida — after Lewis ruled the districts had been illegally drawn to benefit Republicans.
Lewis's ruling is a victory for the GOP-controlled Legislature, but this means the legal battle could continue.
Attorneys for the groups that sued the Legislature, including the League of Women Voters, said recently they would not rule out the possibility of an appeal.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.