Okay, a three judge federal panel will hear the challenge to the Texas redistricting rip-off.

For your Looking Smart at the Labor Day Picnic edification, here’s the judges.

Xavier Rodriguez

Prior to assuming the bench, he was a partner in the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski. Rodriguez was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court in 2001 by Governor Rick Perry. He was defeated for election in the Republican primary in 2002. His challenger was Steven Wayne Smith. Rodriguez outspent Smith $558,000 to $9,500.

After his defeat, Rodriguez returned to private practice briefly before being appointed to the Federal District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio by President George W. Bush.

Orlando Garcia

Garcia is a former Texas state legislator and a United States federal judge sitting on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Born in Jim Wells County, Texas, Garcia received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1978. He was in private practice in San Antonio, Texas from 1978–1990, and a Texas state representative from 1983-1991. From 1991 to 1992 he was a judge in the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals.

He was nominated by President Bill Clinton on November 19, 1993, to a seat which had been vacated by Emilio M. Garza over two years before. Garcia was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 10, 1994, and received his commission on March 11, 1994.

Jerry Edwin Smith

Smith is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on June 2, 1987 and confirmed by the Senate on December 19, 1987. Smith received his commission for the seat, which was created by 98 Stat. 333, two days later.^[1]

Smith attended Yale University and Yale Law School, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1969 and his J.D. in 1972. After law school, he clerked for Judge Halbert O. Woodward on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Smith later served as the director of the Harris County Housing Authority (1978–1980), Special Assistant Attorney General of Texas (1981–1982), chairman of the Houston Civil Service Commission (1982–1984), and the City Attorney for Houston, Texas (1984–1987).

Prior to his appointment, Smith was active in Republican politics.

Smith struck down affirmative action in admitting students to UT law school, and required the EPA to use cost-benefit analysis when deciding whether to ban a toxic substance.  Seriously.  He’d take away breathing rights for Democrats if he could.

Everybody is hoping that Rodriguez notices he’s Hispanic and Hispanics are getting screwed under the GOP redistricting plan.

Garcia, having been a state rep and knowing how this game is played, is our best hope for fair and impartial.