SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK

Court turns down Louisiana bid on Census WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down Louisiana's bid to recover the congressional seat taken from the state as a result of the 2010 Census. The court did not comment on its order preventing the state from pursuing a lawsuit that claims the Census unfairly included undocumented immigrants in each state's population count. Louisiana said California, Florida, Texas and other states with large populations of undocumented immigrants gained seats in the House of Representatives at the expense of Louisiana and a handful of other states. Louisiana went from seven to six seats in the House based on the Census. The lawsuit, filed by Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, asked the court to order the federal government to re-calculate House seats based only on legal residents. Caldwell issued a statement saying he was disappointed in the Supreme Court's ruling, arguing the Census procedure "dilutes the rights of American citizens." "By turning a blind eye to the issue presented, the court has elevated the benefits of illegal immigration by foreign nationals to another level," he said. The way Louisiana's new plan was drawn, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, and U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, have been thrown into the same district. Congressional elections under the new plan will be held this fall. The case was Louisiana v. Bryson, 140, Orig. Justices reject Christian campus groups' appeal WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from Christian groups that challenged a discrimination policy at California state universities. The justices on Monday are leaving in place a federal appeals court ruling that found that the policy doesn't violate the Constitution. The policy says officially recognized campus groups can't discriminate based on religion or sexual orientation. A Christian fraternity and a sorority at San Diego State University sued in 2005, arguing that the policy violates their religious freedom. The groups are restricted to Christian members. The case is Alpha Delta Chi-Delta Chapter v. Reed, 11-744. Published: Wed, Mar 21, 2012