Federal judge rejects halt to April elections
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A federal judge Wednesday rejected requests by top Republican state lawmakers to prevent April 24 elections from proceeding under existing legislative districts.
After the Pennsylvania Supreme Court invalidated a newly drawn map of state House and Senate districts, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, and House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, filed a lawsuit, as did House Speaker Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney.
They claimed the state could not constitutionally hold elections according to districts drawn in 2001. Both suits argued that the population shifts of the past decade mean the current legislative map would give more representation to some residents than others.
Judge R. Barclay Surrick of the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia denied the requests, saying the election is too close to bar voting along current district lines. The state Supreme Court had ruled that those boundaries remain in effect until a new legislative map is enacted.
"To enjoin the 2012 election from proceeding under the 2001 plan would leave the Pennsylvania primary in a state of unacceptable uncertainty," he wrote. He added that delaying the primary election could prevent state voters from choosing presidential nominating delegates for the Republican National Convention in August and the Democratic National Convention in September.
In a joint statement, Mr. Pileggi and Mr. Turzai said the court's opinion focused on timing, rather than the merits of their argument.
"We are reviewing our legal and legislative options," they said.
House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, praised the ruling, saying it would allow for an orderly election process.
-- Karen Langley
First Published February 9, 2012 12:00 am
