A judge in Frankfort ruled this week that the newly-drawn legislative districts are unconstitutional and has ordered election officials to use previous district lines in this year’s state legislative elections.

That means Logan County’s district for state senator won’t change and longtime incumbent Joey Pendleton will again run here.

Without a new state senate district to run in, Logan County state representative Martha Jane King will withdraw from that race and refile to run again for her same house seat, which she has won in the past two elections.

The filing deadline for legislative candidates is today at 4 p.m.

“My intent is – if nothing has changed by 4 p.m. – to do as the judge ordered and file for my old seat,” King said.

But that could change as the judge’s ruling is being appealed to the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Every 10 years, after a national census, Kentucky is required to redraw its district lines to keep them all even – in terms of population.

That was done by the state general assembly last month, and signed into law by Governor Steve Beshear, but both Republicans from the House of Representatives and Democrats from the senate, filed suit claiming the new lines were unconstitutional.

And Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd agreed.

“At this time, it’s unfortunate, really,” King said. “That’s the word I would use. We’re not allowed to run in the new districts right now.”

The senate district King would have ran in would have included Logan, Todd, Muhlenberg, Allen, Simpson and a portion of Warren counties.

But if Shepherd’s ruling stands, she will run again in just Logan and Todd counties for state representative.

“I am glad Logan and Todd was kept as it was and didn’t get carved up,” King said. “My hope is, if the maps are redrawn they will keep them strong and together.”

If King enters the race, she would be the second Democrat on the ballot for the May primary, as longtime Logan County Attorney Tom Noe filed to run last month.

That would mean a contested primary, but Noe has no intention of running against King.

“When I filed, I was filing for an open house seat,” Noe said. “My position, given the court ruling, is to strongly encourage Martha Jane to run again for state representative if the senate redistricting does not come through. The best thing is for Logan and Todd counties is for her to stay in the state house where she can be the most effective leader we have in the position.”

Noe said unless the judge’s ruling is changed, he will withdraw from the race.

“I have no intention to challenge Martha Jane and take away that seniority she has earned,” he said.

Three Republicans have filed to run for that seat, however. They are Logan County Magistrate Jo Orange, Chris Hightower and Jimmy Kent Wilson.