A gerrymandering lawsuit filed against Pennsylvania legislative leaders went to court Wednesday, Oct. 4, but it could be several months before the courts hear opening arguments in the case, according to the judge who presided over the hearing. Lawyers representing the legislative leaders and the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania squared off in Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg over the leaders’ attempt to halt the League’s lawsuit. The lawsuit claims Republicans engaged in extreme partisan gerrymandering when drawing the current congressional maps in 2011. Lawyers for the League are seeking a ruling from the court that strikes down the congressional maps and orders new maps to be drawn before the 2018 election.
During arguments over leaders’ application to stay the case, Commonwealth Court Senior Judge Dan Pellegrini warned lawyers it is nearly impossible for the case to make its way through the state court system in time to affect the 2018 elections.
At the earliest, the Commonwealth Court could hear opening arguments in December, but it’s more likely to happen around February 2018, making any ruling too late to affect next year’s congressional elections, Pellegrini said.
“You can hope, but I can tell you it isn’t going to happen,” Pellegrini told David Gersch, the lead attorney in the League’s lawsuit.
Full Article: Judge: Lawsuit running out of time to alter 2018 elections.