CASE SUMMARY

On March 7, 2022, a Pennsylvania voter filed a petition with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenging the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s adopted legislative redistricting plan as violating various provisions of the state constitution. Plaintiff alleged the Commission prioritized partisan advantage over neutral criteria resulting in excessive population deviations in violation of the Free and Equal Elections Clause, discriminated against certain voters in deciding to reallocate incarcerated persons to their prior residences in violation of the Anti-Discrimination Clause, excessively split political subdivisions and needlessly paired Republican incumbents in violation of state constitutional criteria, and unjustifiably used race to draw districts when not required by the federal Voting Rights Act in violation of the Free and Equal Elections Clause, Racial and Ethnic Equality Clause, and Equal Protection Clause. Plaintiff sought a court order declaring the plan unlawful and remanding it back to the Commission for corrections.

  • On March 16, 2022, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order upholding the plan as constitutional and dismissing all challenges pending against it.

CASE LIBRARY

Pennsylvania Supreme Court - No. 16 MM 2022