It's a mapmaking saga that just doesn't seem to want to end.
On Friday, the Florida Supreme Court ruled there will be an endgame to debates over the state’s political maps.
Tallahassee's majority Republicans have failed to come to an agreement on new congressional boundaries. The map has twice been struck down by the courts as unconstitutional.
In a blunt opinion, the Florida Supreme Court said it's sticking by its Oct. 17 deadline for the legislature to agree on a new map.
If that doesn't happen, a trial court in Tallahassee would take a look at the differing maps passed by the Florida House and Senate during their August special session and make a recommendation on what the final boundaries ought to look like.
The Supreme Court would then make the final call.
Many Republicans admit their falling out over the map is embarrassing for the party.
In a scathing concurring opinion, Justice James Perry wrote any further delay would be, “A mockery of the will of the voters who passed the Fair Districts amendments.”
House leaders say they don't have any interest in holding another special session.
The top mapmaker in the Senate, meanwhile, thinks there is room for compromise. But now, everybody's being put on notice about what will happen if the rift continues.
The congressional district map was originally drawn three years ago. But a court found it was drawn to benefit Republicans. That’s a violation of the Fair Districts amendments passed by voters in 2010.
The map was redrawn last year and struck down again for the same reason.