Carter, C. et al s. v. Chapman, L. et al (concurring)
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA MIDDLE DISTRICT CAROL ANN CARTER, MONICA PARRILLA, REBECCA POYOUROW, WILLIAM TUNG, ROSEANNE MILAZZO, BURT SIEGEL, SUSAN CASSANELLI, LEE CASSANELLI, LYNN WACHMAN, MICHAEL GUTTMAN, MAYA FONKEU, BRADY HILL, MARY ELLEN BALCHUNIS, TOM DEWALL, STEPHANIE MCNULTY AND JANET TEMIN, Petitioners v. LEIGH M. CHAPMAN, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS THE ACTING SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA; JESSICA MATHIS, IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS DIRECTOR FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF ELECTION SERVICES AND NOTARIES, Respondents : No. 7 MM 2022 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : CONCURRING STATEMENT CHIEF JUSTICE BAER FILED: February 2, 2022 I join in full the Court’s per curiam order granting Petitioners’ Emergency Application for Extraordinary Relief and exercising extraordinary jurisdiction under 42 Pa.C.S. § 726 in this matter. I write separately to set forth my personal rationale for joining the current order. On January 10, 2022, this Court denied a request to exercise extraordinary jurisdiction in this matter, expressly stating that our denial was “without prejudice to Petitioners to reapply for similar relief in this Court, as future developments may dictate.” See Per Curiam Order dated January 10, 2022. In the past three weeks, developments have occurred that no doubt prompted the Petitioners’ current application and now necessitate this Court’s action. Specifically, the executive and legislative branches have failed to agree upon a new map, and the task of adopting a congressional redistricting plan is necessarily consigned to the judiciary. While the Commonwealth Court has acted expeditiously to address this matter, the threat of any appeal period from the Commonwealth Court decision to this Court reduces the scant days available for this Court to obtain briefs, study this complex and important matter, and render a decision, all of which must occur before potential candidates gather signatures and prepare for the May 17, 2022 primary election. In consideration of the many deadlines and the need for speedy resolution of this matter for the benefit of potential candidates and voters, I am compelled to join the grant of extraordinary jurisdiction.
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