RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Supreme Court has sided with current and former state senators when it comes to what records the lawmakers can keep private related to redistricting.

The high court said advocates seeking a reformed redistricting process cannot have access to lawmakers’ communications with outside consultants as part of a lawsuit challenging the legality of several senate districts. The lawmakers refused to hand over those documents and were ruled in contempt by a lower court judge.

Virginia’s 2011 redistricting effort has come under fire from critics who say the lines were unfairly drawn to favor incumbents, and outside groups have challenged the current district boundaries in both state and federal court.