RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legal attempts to block North Carolina legislative and congressional elections from occurring under district maps approved by state Republicans last month are getting heard by state trial judges.

A three-judge panel scheduled hearings for Friday on two lawsuits. Plaintiffs want the judges to prevent state officials from administering elections with the maps because they say they’re extreme partisan gerrymanders that also dilute Black voting power.

Candidate filing for the March 8 primary begins on Monday. GOP legislative leaders who passed the plans say the boundaries are lawful, created under a transparent process that avoided racial demographic and political data.