Pennsylvania Supreme Court Pauses Map-Choosing Proceedings

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday ordered a lower court to hit pause on proceedings to choose a new congressional map.

The high court issued a stay while it considers an emergency application filed over the weekend on behalf of Pennsylvania voters asking it to intervene in the redistricting case being heard by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Any map chosen by the lower court will be appealed to the Supreme Court, which should not wait to accept jurisdiction, according to the application filed by attorneys with Elias Law Group LLP.

“Now that the evidentiary record is closed, this Court should immediately take extraordinary jurisdiction, adopt a map as soon as possible, and provide all Pennsylvanians with the finality they so urgently seek,” the filing said.

The Commonwealth Court heard arguments last week for over a dozen congressional map proposals submitted by lawmakers, advocacy groups, and citizens.

Pennsylvania’s courts will decide the state’s next congressional map because the Republican-led state legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf (D) could not agree on a redistricting plan. Any map ruling also could change the state’s spring primary election schedule.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Jennifer Kay in Miami at jkay@bloomberglaw.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tina May at tmay@bloomberglaw.com