Kress, E., Pet v. 2021 Legislative Reapp Comm

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA RYAN COVERT, DARLENE J. COVERT, : No. 4 WM 2022 AND ERIK HULICK, : : Appeal from the Legislative Petitioners : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 : v. : : : 2021 PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATIVE : REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION, : : Respondent : KERRY BENNINGHOFF, INDIVIDUALLY, : No. 11 MM 2022 AND AS MAJORITY LEADER OF THE : PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF : Appeal from the Legislative REPRESENTATIVES, : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 Petitioner : : : v. : : : 2021 LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT : COMMISSION, : : Respondent : LISA M. BOSCOLA, SENATOR 18TH : No. 14 MM 2022 DISTRICT, : : Appeal from the Legislative Petitioner : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 : v. : : : 2021 LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT : COMMISSION, : : Respondent : ERIC ROE, : No. 16 MM 2022 : Petitioner : Appeal from the Legislative : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 v. : : : 2021 LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT : COMMISSION, : : Respondent : RON Y. DONAGI, PHILIP T. GRESSMAN, : No. 17 MM 2022 PAMELA GORKIN, DAVID P. MARSH, : JAMES L. ROSENBERGER, EUGENE : Appeal from the Legislative BOMAN, GARY GORDON, LIZ MCMAHON, : Reapportionment Commission Plan TIMOTHY FEEMAN, AND GARTH ISAAK, : dated February 4, 2022 : Petitioners : : : v. : : : 2021 LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT : COMMISSION, : : Respondent : GABRIEL INGRAM, RUTH MOTON, MARK : No. 18 MM 2022 KIRCHGASSER AND SUSAN POWELL, : : Appeal from the Legislative Petitioners : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 : v. : : : 2021 LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT : COMMISSION, : : Respondent : TODD ELLIOTT KOGER, : No. 7 WM 2022 : Petitioner : Appeal from the Legislative : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 v. : : : 2021 PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATIVE : REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION, : : Respondent : JACKIE HUTZ, : No. 11 WM 2022 : Petitioner : Appeal from the Legislative : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 v. : : : 2021 PA LEGISLATIVE : REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION, : : Respondent : EDWARD J. KRESS, : No. 12 WM 2022 : Petitioner : Appeal from the Legislative : Reapportionment Commission Plan : dated February 4, 2022 v. : : : 2021 LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT : COMMISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH : OF PENNSYLVANIA, : : Respondent : ORDER PER CURIAM AND NOW, this 16th day of March, 2022, upon consideration of the above- captioned legislative reapportionment appeals filed pursuant to PA. CONST. art. II, § 17(d) (indicating that “[a]ny aggrieved person may file an appeal from the final plan [of the 2021 Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission] directly to the Supreme Court”), this Court finds that the Final Reapportionment Plan of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission filed on February 4, 2022, is in compliance with the mandates of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the United States Constitution and is not contrary to law, and, therefore, shall have the force of law. See PA. CONST. art. II, § 17(d) & (e) (specifying that “[i]f the appellant establishes that the final plan is contrary to law, the Supreme Court shall issue an order remanding the plan to the commission” and that “[w]hen the Supreme Court has finally decided an appeal…the reapportionment plan shall have the force of law…”). Further, it is hereby ordered that said Plan shall be used in all forthcoming elections to the General Assembly until the next constitutionally-mandated reapportionment shall be approved. All outstanding motions filed in the above-captioned matters are hereby DISMISSED. This Court’s February 23, 2022 Order, at Judicial Administration Docket No. 569, which temporarily suspended the General Primary Election calendar relative to elections for seats in the General Assembly, is VACATED. Our adjustment to that calendar is resolved by separate order at that docket number and entered today. Jurisdiction relinquished.