Supreme Court refuses to stop new congressional maps in Pennsylvania

[BumRushDaShow]

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]

1. Best news all day.

[SCantiGOP]

25. And it was unanimous

No dissents were recorded, it was unanimous.

[sl8]

44. We don't know that.

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.

[SCantiGOP]

53. True, but

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]

43. Yep! Maybe the Philly suburbs stand a fair chance now.

That would be a rarity.

[lark]

2. Bet Gorsuch and Alito are pissed!!

I am thrilled, whoohoo!!

[IronLionZion]

7. I hope those two are sitting somewhere stewing about it

along with Trump and other GOP leaders. They know they're going to lose the house this year.

[Fred Sanders]

11. Alito threw out the first challenge in February.

"Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. turned down the state’s 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 state’s 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]

45. That's funny.

"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]

20. Breaking: Supreme Court, With No Noted Dissent, Refuses to Intervene in Pa Redistricting Case...

Breaking: Supreme Court, With No Noted Dissent, Refuses to Intervene in Pa Redistricting Case Just Hours After Lower Court Rules

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]

31. I saw that after I made my post, sorry.

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]

34. You don't have to apologize! I'm as surprised as you one of the wingnut Supremes didn't try and

stop the decision. I guess that respect for individual State Supreme Courts is pretty strong.

[rpannier]

35. Also on Alito

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]

63. Thank you all for your analyses and opinions. While IANAL (but am somewhat anal)

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]

3. Excellent!

[durablend]

4. Is there another ruling they can be smacked with?

Three in one day sounds better than two.

They're probably calling Putin right now: "Um, we have a problem komrade"

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Nah, they're done. This was their last best hope.

[bearsfootball516]

15. Nope.

This was their last chance.

[Freddie]

5. Yes!!!!

I now live in PA-01 where we will send Brian Fitzpatrick packing!!

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Yes PLEASE

I wish Patrick Murphy would run in there again.

[cyndensco]

6. Excellent!

[herding cats]

8. This is excellent!

[old guy]

9. The repubs will probably appeal this to Putin.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Only thing we have going for us

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]

33. "But Mommy!"

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]

10. K&R

[Mad_Mongol]

16. Thank G-D for the judiciary branch!

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]

17. In related news....

Paul Ryan orders a case of new underwear.

[LonePirate]

18. Twitters election experts are saying Dems could gain 3-6+ seats from PA alone in a blue tsunami.

We need 23 for a majority.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. I think a min of 2

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]

21. "It's NOT FAIR that our unfair congressional map

is being thrown out!!11!1!!1" PAGOP

[FakeNoose]

32. This is a win for everyone, not just Pennsylvania

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]

22. Supreme Court, With No Noted Dissent, Refuses to Intervene in Pa Redistricting Case

http://electionlawblog.org/?p=98206

Link to tweet

[Marie Marie]

23. Finally - it's settled. Whew! This PA-er is doing cartwheels.

[BumRushDaShow]

26. Don't hurt yourself

(*as I tumble across the floor*)

[Marie Marie]

27. I should have added - in my head. Never could do one of those for real.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. Just make sure when you do that

this doesn't happen!

[MyOwnPeace]

38. Oh, hell!!!!!

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]

39. !!!!

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]

24. Don't need anymore cheating

[Butterflylady]

28. Alright!!!!!!!!!

I'm in redneck heaven here in PA and I'm lovin it.

[True Blue American]

50. Did Sherrod Brown

Say that District was right on the border line of Ohio?

[BumRushDaShow]

52. The now "old" 18th was on the PA/WV border

(Old 18th Congressional)


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]

55. Thanks.

Sherrod mentioned WV too. Not too far from Steubenville.

[Honeycombe8]

30. Yay!!!!!!! Woo hooooooo!!!!!!!

And the race is ON!!!!!

[Dopers_Greed]

36. This increases the odds of us taking back the House

I bet the Repugs are trying to get Putie to speed dial his hackers

[meow2u3]

37. Great news!

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]

49. If you do be sure and let us know!

God Speed!

[MyOwnPeace]

40. So now, more than ever.................

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]

42. What might help with turnout here in PA

(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]

41. This is victory for democracy!

Yeah!!! for Democracy!!!

[riversedge]

46. About time there is some justice for PA voters.

[bluestarone]

47. FINALLY GREAT NEWS!!!

SO happy here!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gives me a little more faith in this country!!!

[True Blue American]

48. States Rights

That is what Republicans have preached for years!

Hoisted on their own petard! 😂

[Gothmog]

51. The GOP admits defeat

Link to tweet

[BumRushDaShow]

54. Turzai: "by adding new requirements for drawing congressional districts".

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]

56. He does not have

Any choice. Republican Court! States rights. Has he forgotten in his desperation?

[Gothmog]

57. I can still smile at this admission of defeat

[Orange Free State]

58. Turdguy is madder than a hornet

And I don’t 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]

59. Suck it GOPers

That is all

[Cha]

60. the Cheating pubs must be

so disappointed

Mahalo, BRDS!

[BumRushDaShow]

61. Hey Cha!

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]

62. These spawn of Satan aren't done yet...

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.

[durablend]

64. You're right...

http://abc27.com/2018/03/20/gop-lawmakers-seek-to-impeach-judges-over-congressional-map/