On February 3rd, 2012, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania released its opinion documenting its reasons for overturning the PLRC’s proposed redistricting plan. As we expected, the majority opinion relied heavily on the comprehensive appeal we filed along with Hogan Lovells on behalf of Amanda Holt and other Pennsylvania citizens.
The appeal had a high hurdle to cross – as the opinion notes, the Court’s decision has “disrupted the 2012 primary election landscape” – but as the Court further explains, they could not ignore a clear Constitutional mandate to avoid splitting municipalities unless absolutely necessary, something the Holt plan powerfully demonstrated the LRC had failed to do.
While the opinion does not give specific instructions in designing a new plan, it emphasizes that the LRC must consider contiguity, compactness & integrity of political subdivisions, which have historically been neglected.
