Pennsylvania Supreme Court Throws Out House, Senate Redistricting Maps

It’s back to the drawing board for Pennsylvania’s five-member Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

According to the Associated Press, the state Supreme Court in a tight vote Wednesday determined the new lines for Pennsylvania's 203 state House seats and 50 Senate districts are "contrary to law" and need to be redrawn.

That means State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-16, Ambridge will continue to represent Ross Township along with , Bellevue, Franklin Park and , communities he lost under the plan.

The Associated Press reported that the justices voted, 4-3, to send the plan back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. 

The court's reasoning followed the argument lawyers for several Pennsylvania voters and a top state lawmaker made to the high court on Monday during a day of appeals concerning the  the commission approved in December, the Allentown Morning Call reported. 

The majority said their full opinion in the case would be released later.

In the meantime, current district lines must remain in force.

Fot other areas neaby this means State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-44, Moon Township, continues to represent among others, ,  and , three communities he lost to , R-14, Big Beaver, under the redistricting changes.

State Sen. John Pippy, R-37, Moon, who earlier this week announced he wouldn't , will keep Mt. Lebanon. 

No one so far has filed a challenge to  maps of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts, the Morning Call reported.