A federal judge is asking Gov. Rick Snyder to explain why a special election to fill the seat held by U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. can't be held sooner.

Embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal, Conyers, a Detroit Democrat who represented Michigan's 13th Congressional District, announced his resignation on Dec. 17, 2017.

Snyder, who has discretionary power regarding special election scheduling, decided the seat would remain empty for nearly 11 months, until the November 2018 general election.

In the meantime, five residents from the 13th Congressional District, an area that encompasses a large portion of Detroit and western suburbs including Dearborn, Westland, Wayne and Romulus, are asking U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith to order the the election be conducted "as soon as possible."

A motion was filed on behalf of the residents by Detroit-based attorney Michael A. Gilmore, who happens to be vying for Conyers' vacated seat.

Gilmore argues that Snyder's decision to delay the special election is discriminatory -- implying race, political affiliation and demographics played a role -- and violates the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.

The 13th Congressional District is home to 658,383 residents, of whom 55 percent are black and predominantly Democrats with a median income of $33,995, according to the lawsuit.

"This district elected its most recent recent member of Congress, a Democrat, by more than 77 percent," the lawsuit says.

In contrast, the lawsuit points out that Snyder ordered a swift special election to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned amid an election scandal in July 2012.

McCotter represented the 11th Congressional District, which is comprised of 82 percent white residents, most of whom were Republican voters with a $79,805 median income.

In that situation, Snyder ordered a special primary be held in September 2012, so that McCotter's replacement could appear on that year's regular Nov. 6 general election ballot. State Lt. Gov. Brian Calley said the special primary election, which cost the district nearly $650,000, was unavoidable, in order to comply with state law and the U.S. Constitution.

Snyder "does not (because he cannot) dispute that the delay in the 13th District imposes disproportionate burdens on African-American citizens when compared to the prompt filing of the vacancy in the majority-white 11th Congressional District," the lawsuit argues.

Snyder "has an unfortunate history of racial discrimination in denying democracy and human rights to urban areas, and that same denial is present in this case," the lawsuit claims.

Goldsmith heard arguments from both sides in Detroit's federal court Thursday, March 15, and ordered state attorneys to submit a brief "explaining the burden that Plaintiffs' newly proposed special election schedule would cause" by March 19.

A response to Synder's attorneys from Gilmore is due by March 21.

Motion for earlier special election: