Long Division: Redistricting in Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Lawyers Chapter

Speakers:

• Senator Jay Costa, Pennsylvania State Senate Minority Leader, Legislative Reapportionment Commission Member
• Representative Mike Turzai, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader, Legislative Reapportionment Commission Member
• Ken Gormley, Moderator, Dean, Duquesne University School of Law

Speakers:

• Senator Jay Costa, Pennsylvania State Senate Minority Leader, Legislative Reapportionment Commission Member
• Representative Mike Turzai, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader, Legislative Reapportionment Commission Member
• Ken Gormley, Moderator, Dean, Duquesne University School of Law

In January, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned a hotly-contested legislative redistricting plan by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission. The plan was designed to satisfy a constitutional requirement that all districts must be reviewed every ten years to account for population shifts described by the Census. The court’s decision marked the first time a redistricting plan has been overturned in Pennsylvania, and underscores the tension that has been developing between federal and state law.

What is the impact of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision that halted the redistricting right before the primary? How does racial composition have an impact on the reapportionment process? Does the current reapportionment commission system work?

Join the Allegheny County Bar Association Asian Attorneys Committee and the Federalist Society for a lively and timely discussion on the reapportionment process.

Senator Jay Costa began serving his fourth full term as state Senator from the 43rd District in January 2009. Costa was elected by his Senate colleagues in November 2010 to serve as Democratic Floor Leader for the 2011-12 legislative session. Sen. Costa is a 1979 graduate from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He received his law degree from the Duquesne University School of Law in 1989.

Representative Mike Turzai serves the 28th District, representing communities in the North Hills of Allegheny County, since 2001. He was elected by the House Republican Caucus to serve as the majority leader for the 2011-12 session. Rep. Turzai is a 1981 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He received his law degree from Duke University School of Law in 1987.

Ken Gormley is Dean of the Duquesne University School of Law and a professor of constitutional law. Dean Gormley joined the Duquesne Law faculty in 1994 after clerking for U.S. District Judge Donald E. Ziegler; teaching at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law; engaging in private practice; serving as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission; and serving as special clerk to Justice Ralph J. Cappy of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He earned his B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Registration and Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
Program: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Assessment: $15.00 per person

You may register online for the program, which includes lunch, with a credit card at the ACBA website (www.acba.org). Registration Deadline: May 16, 2012