PSC Nonpartisan COURTs Act

New federal lawsuits over congressional maps

This bill would let a state resident sue in federal district court if a State’s final congressional map breaks the Constitution or federal law. You would have to file within 30 days after the State enacted its final map. Statewide claims would be heard by a three-judge federal panel, with venue in the federal district that contains the State capital. Courts would have to speed up these cases and appeals. If a court finds a map unlawful, the State could be allowed to propose a fix, but the court could adopt a replacement map if no timely fix is proposed. Notices, limits on single-judge orders, a five-day notice to the Governor and attorney general for State defendants, and a 10-day deadline to appeal would also apply.