CASE SUMMARY

On May 24, 2021, the legislative leaders of Maine’s House and Senate filed a petition with the Maine Supreme Court seeking an extension of the state constitution’s deadlines for enacting new congressional, legislative, and county commission redistricting plans. Petitioners claimed the delayed release of 2020 Census data caused by the coronavirus pandemic would make the Apportionment Commission unable to submit proposed plans to the legislature by its June 1, 2021, deadline, and the legislature unable to enact final plans by its June 11 deadline. They sought a court order extending each of the deadlines.

• The Maine Supreme Court held oral arguments on June 30, 2021.
• On July 19, 2021, the Court issued an order extending the congressional and legislative deadlines but not the county commission deadline for lack of jurisdictional authority. The court ordered the Apportionment Commission to submit congressional and legislative plan proposals to the state legislature within 45 days of receiving legacy format census data; the legislature to adopt plans within 10 days of either the Commission’s submission of plans or their missed deadline to do so, whichever is earlier; and if they both failed, the Court itself would adopt a plan within 35 days thereafter.

CASE LIBRARY

Maine Supreme Judicial Court - No. SJC-21-4

• Petition to Extend Constitutional Deadlines for Apportionment with Incorporated Memorandum of Law - 5/24/21
• Affidavit of Julie L. Flynn, Deputy Secretary of State - 5/24/21
• Notice of Opportunity for Comment - 5/27/21
• Amended Procedural Order - 6/2/21
• Apportionment Commission's Motion to Join the Petition to Extend Constitutional Deadlines for Apportionment, With Incorporated Memorandum of Law - 6/4/21
• Order Joining Apportionment Commission - 6/7/21
• Order Granting in Part and Dismissing in Part Petition to Extend Deadlines - 7/19/21