Pa Supreme Court rejects redistricting plan.

From the Court.

Appeal LEGISLATIVE Respondent

2011 COMMISSION,

Petitioners REAPPORTIONMENT

ORDER PER CURIAM AND NOW, this 25th day of January, 2012, upon consideration of the petitions for review and briefs in these legislative redistricting appeals, and after entertaining oral argument on January 23, 2012, this Court finds that the final 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Plan is contrary to law.

PA. CONST. art. II, ? 17(d).1 Accordingly, the final 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Plan is REMANDED to the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission with a directive to reapportion the Commonwealth in a manner consistent with this Court's Opinion, which will follow. Id.

The 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Plan, which this Court previously ordered to be used in all forthcoming elections to the General Assembly until the next constitutionally mandated reapportionment shall be approved,

Albert v. 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Commission, 790 A.2d 989, 991 (Pa. 2002) (quoting per curiam order),

1 For administrative purposes only, we have designated the appeal in Holt v. 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission, 7 MM 2012 / J-7-2012, as the lead case. [J- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 31 -2012] - 5

Reapportionment Plan of the 2011 : Legislative Reapportionment Commission, dated December 12, 2011

DECIDED:

January 25, 2012 shall remain in effect until a revised final 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Plan having the force of law is approved.

PA. CONST. art. II, ? 17(e). All 2012 election dates shall remain the same, with the exception of the primary election calendar, which is adjusted as follows:

Thursday, January 26 First day to circulate nomination petitions

Thursday, February 16 Last day to file nomination petitions

Thursday, February 23 Last day to file objections to set aside nomination petitions

Monday, February 27 Last day that court may fix for hearings on objections to nomination petitions

Friday, March 2 Last day for court to finally determine objections to nomination petitions

Friday, March 2 Last day for withdrawal by candidates who filed nomination petitions

Any signatures on nomination petitions dated January 24 or January 25, 2012, shall be deemed valid as to timeliness, subject, however, to any other statutory challenge.

Jurisdiction is retained.

Mr. Justice Saylor files a dissenting statement, in which Mr. Justice Eakin and Madame Justice Orie Melvin join.

Retired State Superior Court Judge Stephen McEwen throws out some strange comparisons concerning the approved redistricting plan for the Commonwealth, McEwen comments on the statement "it's never been done before" and equates Columbus, the founding fathers and Apple's Steve Jobs as justification for gerrymandering?

Senator Jeff Piccola's 15th district by moving Harrisburg City into the 48th district and under the representation of Lebanon Counties Senator Mike Folmer.

Photo/Natalie Cake