A judge in Steuben County on Monday appointed a special master to draw new congressional district boundaries as the legal challenge to the legislative maps drawn by the state Legislature continues to play out. 

Judge Patrick McCalluster selected Jonathan Cervas of the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carneige Mellon University to draw the new lines.

The move is not wholly unexpected and the same judge last month ruled the maps should be redrawn after ruling they violated the state's constitutional amendment against partisan gerrymandering. Democrats who control the state Legislature have argued the lines were drawn fairly and will be upheld. 

An appeal to that ruling is expected to be heard in court this Wednesday, which could make the move a moot point.