GREENSBORO -- A federal court is again considering whether North Carolina's legislative districts are unconstitutionally based on race.           

It heard arguments Wednesday about the latest maps.

This matter has been before a three-judge panel several times and it is far from over.

Attorneys argued that the latest legislative districts didn't remedy racial gerrymandering, and even violated state rules.

"By changing districts that they didn't have the authority under the federal order or the state constitution to change," attorney Anita Earls said.

The court had struck down 28 House and Senate districts saying that race had been used as the main factor in drawing the boundaries.

Voters' attorneys still found problems with 12 districts saying black voters were packed into some, diluting minority voting strength. Earls said she thinks the lines were drawn that way for political gain.

Legislative attorneys argued that legislators started with a clean slate and didn't look at race in drawing the lines. One attorney could say whether or not the if felt the court addressed the issues. The Attorney General’s office had staff on hand.

Alexander Peters from the department said the state did not file a response.

One member of the three-judge panel discussed appointing an independent party to handle redistricting. Representative Pricey Harrison said it would be a better way to address the problem.

"It would be a much fairer process and its way too politicized and partisan gerrymandering is diluting the vote of our North Carolina voters," Harrison said.

Additionally, the 2018 elections are adding pressure to the issue. Earls said the filing period starts in February and it is important for voters to know what the districts are going to be and which ones they live in.

The three judge panel took the matter under advisement and will issue a ruling later.