Georgia has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking federal approval of the newly drawn state legislative and congressional redistricting plans.

Under the federal Voting Rights Act, Georgia must receive approval from the Justice Department or the D.C.-based federal court before any changes in election law are put into effect.

This is the first redistricting process since Republicans took control of the state government. However, this is not the first time the state has chosen to go first to court, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Ten years ago, Democrats tried the same tactic to get around a Republican Justice Department. The courts tossed out much of the Democrats' plan.

If the maps are approved, Rep. Tom Price's (R-Roswell) 6th district would take on a different shape. The district would still include all of East Cobb, but it would also take in Sandy Springs and lose Cherokee County.

Rep. Phil Gingrey's (R-Marietta) 11th District would get a major redrawing. Gingrey would continue to represent Marietta and would add more of Cobb County, but he would lose Paulding, Floyd, Polk and other Northwest Georgia counties while gaining Cherokee.

What do you think of this approach? Is a pre-emptive lawsuit a good idea or should these maps pass Voting Rights Act muster?