JUDY LIN

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of Republicans challenging California's newly drawn congressional maps.

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission announced Friday that U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson dismissed a challenge led by former congressman George Radanovich.

Current chairwoman Jeanne Raya says the voter-created commission was able to fend off another "baseless partisan" attack.

The Los Angeles-based federal judge found that the California Supreme Court already considered and rejected the petition.

Attorneys representing Republicans did not immediately comment.

Republicans argued that the commission improperly used race as a factor in creating voting districts. They have the option to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court over the federal Voting Rights act.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.