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The Supreme Court on Monday denied an emergency appeal by Pennsylvania Republicans to block the implementation of a new congressional map, a decision that all but assures that new maps beneficial to Democrats will be in place for the 2018 elections.
The state's congressional district map has been at the center of controversy for months, an issue that took center stage when the state Supreme Court ruled the old map an unconstitutional gerrymander and ordered it redrawn earlier this year.
The new map, drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, is advantageous to Democrats and appears to give the party a better chance to win in a handful of congressional seats.
Republicans have been challenging the map in court, arguing that the state Supreme Court erred by not giving the state legislature ample time to agree on a replacement map. But the brief order issued Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court said that Justice Samuel Alito had presented the GOP's emergency request to the court, which denied it.
The decision comes hours after a federal district court also ruled against Pennsylvania Republicans in a related challenge to the map.
The one-two punch by the two courts effectively slams the door on the GOP's legal avenues. The U.S. Supreme Court's denial can't be appealed. And while plaintiffs could theoretically challenge the district court's ruling, the same Supreme Court that just denied the emergency appeal with no public dissents has the final say.
The decisions come just one day before the state's filing deadline for congressional primaries, a deadline that had already been extended while the court battles played out.
Supreme Court denies GOP request to block new Pa. congressional map
The state's congressional district map has been at the center of controversy for months, an issue that took center stage when the state Supreme Court ruled the old map an unconstitutional gerrymander and ordered it redrawn earlier this year.
The new map, drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, is advantageous to Democrats and appears to give the party a better chance to win in a handful of congressional seats.
Republicans have been challenging the map in court, arguing that the state Supreme Court erred by not giving the state legislature ample time to agree on a replacement map. But the brief order issued Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court said that Justice Samuel Alito had presented the GOP's emergency request to the court, which denied it.
The decision comes hours after a federal district court also ruled against Pennsylvania Republicans in a related challenge to the map.
The one-two punch by the two courts effectively slams the door on the GOP's legal avenues. The U.S. Supreme Court's denial can't be appealed. And while plaintiffs could theoretically challenge the district court's ruling, the same Supreme Court that just denied the emergency appeal with no public dissents has the final say.
The decisions come just one day before the state's filing deadline for congressional primaries, a deadline that had already been extended while the court battles played out.
Supreme Court denies GOP request to block new Pa. congressional map
