JUNEAU -- The state Supreme Court has agreed to consider the Alaska Redistricting Board's appeal of a lower court's rejection of its new plan.

Oral arguments have been set for the week of May 21, if the matter gets to that point. That's less than two weeks before the June 1 candidate filing date.

While the board will ask the court to approve the new plan, as a backup, its attorneys have been authorized to draft a petition seeking use of its first plan for this year's elections.

The high court allowed for that option earlier this year when it sent the first plan back to the board for additional work.

The state Division of Elections has told the court it needs a valid plan in place by May 14.