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As a major redistricting cases lands before the state supreme court, calls are growing louder for some justices to recuse themselves. On this episode of The Politics Podcast, three former judges talk about the issue of recusal - and the importance of judicial independence.

GOP leaders on Monday announced plans for the General Assembly to vote Wednesday on a bill that would push the May 17 primary to June 7. They say they are worried about the timing to redraw legislative or congressional districts should the Supreme Court soon strike down lines.

Three of the seven justices have been asked by lawyers to stay out of upcoming deliberations because of alleged conflicts.

Judges heard arguments this week over whether North Carolina’s new Congressional and Legislative districts are unconstitutional and should be struck down. Meanwhile, Republican legislative leaders offered a hint that Medicaid expansion could receive serious consideration at the General Assembly later this year. Host Jeff Tiberii reviews the week in North Carolina politics with Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch and Mitch Kokai from the John Locke Foundation.

A three-judge panel will now decide whether the North Carolina General Assembly's Republican majority gerrymandered political maps with extreme, unconstitutional partisan bias.

The judges began hearing evidence Monday, and the state Supreme Court has told them to rule by early next week, with expected appeals to follow.

Wednesday's testimony by House Redistricting Committee Chairman Destin Hall contrasts with comments about transparency Republicans made while drawing congressional and legislative boundaries this fall.

On the political calendar this new year are mid-term elections, a short legislative session, and - already underway - a trial that will rule on whether new districts are constitutional. Dawn Vaughan of the News & Observer and ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾ Politics reporter Rusty Jacobs join this episode to preview 2022.

Three state trial judges started hearing evidence Monday offered by lawyers for plaintiffs in lawsuits that allege district boundaries approved by the Republican-controlled legislature in November are tainted by extreme partisanship and racial bias that favor the GOP.

North Carolina's new political maps hang in the balance as redistricting trial is set to start Jan. 3.