Presidential election hostilities may fuel fight to remake Democratic-majority Pennsylvania Supreme [View all]
Presidential election hostilities may fuel fight to remake Democratic-majority Pennsylvania Supreme Court
The angst, anger and hostility over Pennsylvanias presidential election result will flow past New Years Day.
Republicans who control the state Legislature could use the first weeks of 2021 to fast-track a constitutional amendment that would remake the Democratic-majority state Supreme Court after Republicans and President Donald Trump accused the court of acting illegally or, baselessly, conspiring to steal the election.
As early as May 18′s primary election, Pennsylvania voters could be asked to overhaul how they elect state Supreme Court justices and appellate court judges. The amendment would end the practice of judicial candidates running for 10-year terms in statewide elections and, instead, sort those seats into districts equal in population where candidates must live.
It would seem to guarantee a new set of faces that Republican lawmakers contend will provide better geographical diversity and better court rulings.
Such a change almost assuredly would cut short the high courts 5-2 Democratic majority that might otherwise last well beyond 2030.
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-supreme-court-20201224-pt754znw4jc7nde4z6ry4yhamy-story.html