Supreme Court refuses to stop new congressional maps in Pennsylvania
Source: Washington Post
The Supreme Court on Monday turned down a request from Pennsylvania Republican legislative leaders to block the implementation of a redrawn congressional map that creates more parity between the political parties in the state.
It was the second time that the court declined to get involved in the partisan battle that has roiled Pennsylvania politics. The commonwealths highest court earlier this year ruled that a map drawn by the Republicans leaders in 2011 clearly, plainly and palpably violated the Free and Equal Elections Clause of the Pennsylvania constitution.
The U.S. Supreme Court deliberated nearly two weeks before turning down the request to stop the map from being used in this falls elections. Generally the justices stay out of the way when a states highest court is interpreting its own state constitution.
The practical impact is the 2018 elections are likely to be held under a map much more favorable to Democrats, who scored a surprising victory last week in a special election. The 2011 map that has been used this decade has resulted in Republicans consistently winning 13 of the states 18 congressional seats.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-refuses-to-stop-new-congressional-maps-in-pennsylvania/2018/03/19/128d9656-215e-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html
Edit to add this was the 2nd ruling today. A separate GOP case was just thrown out by a 3-judge panel of federal judges too.
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)SCantiGOP
(13,869 posts)No dissents were recorded, it was unanimous.
sl8
(13,769 posts)All we know is that 5 or more justices didn't agree to grant a stay.
Justices that were inclined to grant a stay, if any, aren't obligated to publicly dissent.
They generally do comment if they have a strong disagreement on a substantial issue. The fact that none commented indicates that there was not strong opposition.
BigmanPigman
(51,591 posts)That would be a rarity.
lark
(23,099 posts)I am thrilled, whoohoo!!
IronLionZion
(45,442 posts)along with Trump and other GOP leaders. They know they're going to lose the house this year.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)"Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. turned down the states first request on Feb. 5, after the state supreme court ordered a new map."
Also very encouraging is that Wisconsin And Maryland have another related and even more important issue coming up:
"The U.S. Supreme Court has never thrown out a states redistricting plan because it has found it so infected with partisan bias that it violates voters constitutional rights.
But the court has on its current docket two cases--one from Wisconsin and one from Maryland--that raise the question."
Did Republicans get gerrymandering drunk and violate voter rights to equal representation, separate violations of state constitutional election district rules?
SergeStorms
(19,201 posts)"Did Republicans get gerrymandering drunk and violate voter rights......". I know that was a rhetorical question, but I still find it hilarious to ask if Republicans - who just found a wonderful, somewhat legal method to cheat - would push that envelope to preposterous lengths.
Sorry, in no way did I mean to laugh at you Fred. That sentence just caught me off guard as one of the most ridiculous things I ever read, and that's because they're the most dishonest, crooked asshats on the planet.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Posted on March 19, 2018 12:20 pm by Rick Hasen
Link to tweet
I called this case a long shot for a long time, but the fact that there was no noted dissents is puzzling given the long delay. The claim was really a weak one and would have led to a huge number of lawsuits challenging state court cases striking down redistricting on state constitutional grounds. Here are some possibilities for the delay.
1, The Court was waiting for the lower court to rule, in case the lower court saw something worth pursing. Given that the interests were almost identical to this case, this does not make much sense, but for the timing.
2. A Justice decided to write, another Justice wrote a response, and the original Justice changed his or her mind. Who knows?
3. A Justice or more needed more time to consider the issues, and was pondering a dissent but then decided not to write.
###
http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98206
lark
(23,099 posts)Glad there is some law that even the rw'ers will support. Of course, I still expect Gorsuch to vote with drumpf when/if his treason and conspiracy end up at SCOTUS.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)stop the decision. I guess that respect for individual State Supreme Courts is pretty strong.
rpannier
(24,329 posts)That is his territory - Pennsylvania
He refused the Republikkans the last time w/o a full court hearing
The theory put forth at the time was Wisconsin's gerry rigging was in trouble
erronis
(15,253 posts)I do "get" the flow of legal discussions - the thrust and the counter-parry.
On DU these seem to be very civil and direct and understandable to a layperson. I appreciate this. And IDW2BAL!
SunSeeker
(51,554 posts)durablend
(7,460 posts)Three in one day sounds better than two.
They're probably calling Putin right now: "Um, we have a problem komrade"
BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)bearsfootball516
(6,377 posts)This was their last chance.
Freddie
(9,265 posts)I now live in PA-01 where we will send Brian Fitzpatrick packing!!
BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)I wish Patrick Murphy would run in there again.
cyndensco
(1,697 posts)herding cats
(19,564 posts)old guy
(3,283 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)is that the equipment is old and not internet-connected. Doesn't mean it can't be fucked with but the machines can't really be "hacked from afar".
MyOwnPeace
(16,926 posts)Ha!
As if IQ45 would have any idea as to what to do - hell, he had to follow the arrow to know which escalator to use when he announced that he was running!
sheshe2
(83,758 posts)Mad_Mongol
(86 posts)So the corruption hasn't spread throughout the root-stock as yet!
Let's send our well wishes for RBG and Justice Kennedy to remain healthy and strong.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Paul Ryan orders a case of new underwear.
LonePirate
(13,420 posts)We need 23 for a majority.
BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)PA-5 (outside of Philly) and possibly PA-17 (outside of Pittsburgh), which is where Conor will be running (which is a different configuration from the old PA-18 that he just won).
My hope is with enough GOTV, we could retake what is now PA-1 (outside of Philly, which was PA-8 and at one time had Patrick Murphy as the rep.), as it is swing, currently leaning slightly R.
louis-t
(23,295 posts)is being thrown out!!11!1!!1" PAGOP
FakeNoose
(32,639 posts)Almost every state is dealing with the pernicious, evil, rightwing gerrymandering in one way or another.
Now the Pennsylvania ruling is a precedent for everyone! Time to get busy redrawing your district maps.
Gothmog
(145,231 posts)Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)(*as I tumble across the floor*)
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)this doesn't happen!
MyOwnPeace
(16,926 posts)I will do all of that - plus more!!!!!
(as I would say if I was IQ45 - the bestest of ever!)
Seriously - this is REALLY FU*KING great!!!!!!!
BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)Edit to add that it's amazing to see Alec Baldwin 30 years ago in that gif with Michael Keaton and Geena Davis and then see him now!
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)Butterflylady
(3,543 posts)I'm in redneck heaven here in PA and I'm lovin it.
True Blue American
(17,984 posts)Say that District was right on the border line of Ohio?
BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)The new replacement "districts" are the 17th & 14th and also along the PA/WV border (because of how WV sneaks a spike of land that bisects the southwestern border of PA and southeastern border of OH. The new 18th is now Pittsburgh.
True Blue American
(17,984 posts)Sherrod mentioned WV too. Not too far from Steubenville.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)And the race is ON!!!!!
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)I bet the Repugs are trying to get Putie to speed dial his hackers
meow2u3
(24,764 posts)I now live in Pennsylvania's 7th District, where the seat is open. I'd like to run for Congress, but that'll have to wait until 2020.
True Blue American
(17,984 posts)God Speed!
MyOwnPeace
(16,926 posts)it MUST be all about the GET OUT THE VOTE!!!!!!!
We cannot DARE let the moment pass - this is about saving THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!
GOTV!!!!!!!!!
BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)(outside of the blue Tsunami) is that we have a gubernatorial race too. So that tends to up the turnout in general. But we will have to go FULL FORCE to flip some of the new seats that are now more "swing" than before.
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)Yeah!!! for Democracy!!!
riversedge
(70,216 posts)bluestarone
(16,940 posts)SO happy here!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gives me a little more faith in this country!!!
True Blue American
(17,984 posts)That is what Republicans have preached for years!
Hoisted on their own petard! 😂
Gothmog
(145,231 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)BULLSHIT!
The state Constitution says (in several places) that the boundaries needed to be "compact" and "contiguous". And the mess they drew after the 2010 election, census, & redistricting was NEITHER.
PA was the laughing stock of the country with PA-7 (which is right outside of Philadelphia) -
This guy does have a challenger and it would be great if she won!
True Blue American
(17,984 posts)Any choice. Republican Court! States rights. Has he forgotten in his desperation?
Gothmog
(145,231 posts)Orange Free State
(611 posts)And I dont think they know what to do besides hurl insults and lie. The Pa-18 Special was horrible at the end, the last day or two every time you clicked on a YouTube video you had to watch a negative ad that said something like Conor Lamb runs over puppies with his lawn tractor! WE ...CANT ...TRUST ...CONOR ...LAMB! VOTE RICK SACCONE!
Now Saccone will reportedly run in the fall in the new 14th, though he does not even live there. I wonder if he can raise enough money to run a campaign after wasting 10 to 13 million in a district he should have won easily. I hope he does, then loses again.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,981 posts)That is all
Cha
(297,220 posts)so disappointed
Mahalo, BRDS!
BumRushDaShow
(128,975 posts)We are ecstatic here. The hope is we can pick up a couple seats that we SHOULD have had before the GOP skewed all the districts to maximize their chances.
Just based on state party registration (800,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans), the PA House contingent really should be 10 Democrat & 8 GOP. But even if not that based on where folks live relative to the boundaries, it needs to at least be no less than 8 Democrats.
I.e., the current 13 GOP - 5 Democrat contingent MUST change! Just based on this and other oddities, people keep assuming that PA is some "red" state and it is not! It is "purple/lean Democrat" and last year's Drumpf win was a (cheat) fluke.
Hulk
(6,699 posts)When they CONTROL the decision makers, there is no justice. We'll see...but I suspect this isn't as hopeful as we would all like.